Just days after unveiling Serbian tactician Nemanja Milincic as their new head coach, SC Villa have officially announced that the deal is off, citing unresolved issues during the final stages of contract negotiations.
In a club statement dated June 25, 2025, Villa confirmed that negotiations with Milincic had been discontinued “with immediate effect,” despite what they called “an agreement in principle” and an already-initiated working relationship.
The development marks a dramatic U-turn for Uganda’s most decorated football club, which had positioned Milincic—a UEFA Pro License holder with stints at Red Star Belgrade, AEK Athens, Al Ettifaq, and the Bulgarian national team—as the face of its new technical direction.
According to the statement from the club, unforeseen issues arose during the final stages of engagement that “touched the core values of the Club.”
Following what was described as “careful consideration,” both SC Villa and Milincic mutually agreed to part ways before finalizing a formal contract.
“The Club is very deliberate to ensure that it sets a strong foundation to be one of the great Clubs and a leading talent conveyor belt on the Continent. This is a value that cannot be compromised at any cost,” the statement reads.
The club also made it clear that its president, Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela, takes full responsibility for the decision to pull the plug on the negotiations.
Milincic had already spoken publicly about his plans for pre-season and his ambitions for the club, making this reversal even more surprising for fans and observers.
SC Villa thanked Milincic for his interest and professionalism and reiterated that the search for a new head coach is ongoing.
