Six-time league champions Vipers continued to cement their position as one of the giants of the game by holding a very successful inaugural celebration that will be marked annually.
Saturday July 27, 2024 will surely be marked in the club’s history.
Fans started thronging inside the St. Mary’s stadium premises as early as 12pm when the gates officially opened each parting with no less than Ugx. 10,000.
Free drinks and eats were served at the different organised points to all the attendees – from the fans to the sponsors, partners and other football stakeholders including rival fans and officials who were part of the occasion.
Entertainment
Besides free drinks and food, there was entertainment from the crème de la crème of the Uganda music industry led by the legend, Dr. Jose Chameleone, Azawi, YK Benda who has openly shown his support for the Venoms as well as Gravity and Fik Gaza.
Sight of legends
It is not a norm in Uganda where ex-footballers are recognised but it was a different case at Kitende as the Vipers former players showcased their skills against fans in a thrilling match.
Led by Edward Golola, the club’s longest serving coach and two-time league winners, they were edged by fans but it was exciting to see Hamza Muwonge, Ayub Kisaliita, Mike Sserumaga, Jamal Sijali, Tony Odur, Farouk Miya, Owen Kasule, Mike Mutyaba, Ronald Seku, Osama Farouk, Derrick Walulya, Godwin Bbule, Habib Kavuma, Joseph Mpande, William Luwagga Kizito and Edward Ssali among others on the Kitende turf.
The awards
After a long speech by the club President, Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa in which he thanked the fans, sponsors, partners including the media, government and football governing bodies (FUFA, CAF & FIFA) and also assuring fans of how they are planning to create a self-sustaining entity with a fully fledged academy and even better stadium, it was time for him to recognize special stakeholders.
Sponsors HIMA Cement, DFCU Bank, Kansai Plascon and partners St. Mary’s Kitende SS where all recognised with a dedicated service and commitment awards.
Individually, Richard Makumbi, the coach who guided Vipers, then Bunamwaya to top tier promotion in 2005 and longest serving administrator Haruna Kyobe were also awarded to the uproar of the fully packed 15,000-seater stadium.
On top of the plaque, both Kyobe and Makumbi were given a ‘special envelope’ for their dedication and work towards the club’s success.
In turn, the former players also presented a signed club jersey to their former boss.
Unveiling the squad
It was also a day used to usher in the new squad for the highly anticipated 2024/25 season that kicks off on Friday next week with the Fufa Super 8.
The first name to be read out was Nicholas Wadada, a club legend that has been away for some years after leaving the club for a stint in Tanzania where he has featured for several clubs including giants Azam FC.
Wadada is part of the new faces that include among others former Villa left back Derrick Ndahiro, forwards Kenneth Kimera and Augusto Mulongo as well as Angola forward Pedro Sakuya.
Despite not announcing their exit, Eric Kambale and Richard Matovu were not part of the players prepping for the new season while Yunus Sentamu’s name was read out in absentia which left more questions than answers.
The squad has seasonal campaigners Milton Karisa, Patrick Mbowa, Allan Okello, Livingstone Mulondo and Siraje Sentamu among others but is dominated by youngsters from the school led by Abubaker Walusimbi, Rogers Torach, Enock Luyima, Issa Bugembe and goalkeepers Jack Komakech and Denis Kiggundu.
Fire works
The festivities included a dazzling five-minute fireworks display before the main event, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Vipers 2-0 Kenya Police
The celebrations climaxed with the Venoms beating visiting Kenya Police 2-0 thanks to goals from debutants Kenneth Kimera and Augusto Mulongo.
The first opening minutes thrilled the fans with some exciting good football and high press but later, things turned with the experienced visitors dominating and created better chances but failed to convert any which will be a concern for new coach Nikola Kavazovic.
Vipers SC Lineup: Komakech, Matsiko (Wadada), Luyima, Torach, Mukundane, Katongole (Lawal), Waiswa, Karisa, Okello (Ndahiro), Watambala (Mbowa), Kimera (Mulongo)
The awards of dedicated service & commitment
- Hima Cement – the club’s main sponsor
- Kansai Plascon Uganda Limited
- St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende
- DFCU bank
- Richard Makumbi – the coach who promoted Vipers to the Premier League (2000 to 2005)
- Haruna Kyobe – longest serving club administrator
The Squad 2024/25
Goalkeepers: Jack Komakech, Derrick Kiggundu, Alfred Mudekereza
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada, Derrick Ndahiro, Paul Mbowa, Livingstone Mulondo, Hilary Mukundane, Rogers Torach, Grant Matsiko, Enock Luyima
Midfielders: Issa Bugembe, Allan Okello, Siraje Sentamu, Frank Katongole, Moses Waiswa, Abubaker Lawal, Abubaker Walusimbi, Abdul Karim Watambala, Ernest Ankunda
Forwards: Kenneth Kimera, Agusto Mulongo, Fumador Asiwome, Yunus Sentamu, Sakuya Pedro, Fazil Tumwine, Milton Karisa, Ekbad Saleem, Abdul Nsereko
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