The President of Vipers Sports Club, Lawrence Mulindwa, has revealed reasons for his lack of trust in local Ugandan coaches, stating that they don’t have the professional touch and don’t understand the vision he has for the club.
He made the comments during the unveiling of Serbian coach Nikola Kavazovic as Vipers’ new head coach, at St. Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday, June 19th.
When asked why he rarely hires local coaches at Vipers, Mulindwa expressed his disappointment with the performance of the local coaches, saying that they do not add to the overall quality of the team and the players.
Mulindwa went on to state that Ugandan coaches, despite having the necessary qualifications, lack the “professional touch” and that players have little to learn from them. He added that as an investor, he believes that bringing in foreign coaches who possess the attributes he desires is crucial for the club’s long-term success.
“Ugandan coaches are good but they lack the professional touch. They have the papers but they’re not professional. Players have nothing to learn from them. That’s why we bring in such (foreign) coaches,” Mulindwa said.
The former FUFA President emphasised that his decision to bring in Kavazovic is not solely about winning titles, but about building a strong team and developing the players. He also said the hire was based on his vision for the club as he is looking at the next 10 years.
“I want to bring something new to Ugandan football. It’s not about winning. It’s about building the team and the players. I’m an Investor. I look at where Vipers will be in the next 10 years,” he said.
Mulindwa elaborated on the qualities they sought in the new coach, including a vast knowledge of football, discipline, a winning mentality, the ability to align with the club’s strategy and youth development program, strong ambition, and the ability to work well with all stakeholders.
“We feel that this time round, the process was done very well and we have the right candidate in coach Nikola,” Mulindwa concluded.
Serbian coach Nikola Kavazovic joins Vipers SC on a two-year contract, replacing Livingstone Mbabazi who was sacked in April this year, on grounds of “disappearing from the team” according to Mulindwa.
