Vipers sack Brazilian Coach Neiva just six months since taking over

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Vipers SC have parted ways with Brazilian Coach Leonard Martins Neiva six months after he took over the Star Times Uganda Premier League defending champions.

Neiva took over the coaching responsibilities in July 2023 succeeding Alex Isabirye Musongola, who had surprisingly resigned from his position at the Kitende-based side. The club announced the departure of Neiva on a Sunday night in a brief media statement.

“Vipers Sports Club informs its stakeholders and the general public that it has by mutual consent ended its contractual relationship with Mr. Leonard Martins Neiva (Head Coach) effective December 23rd, 2023,” reads part of the statement. “The club would like to thank Neiva for his services during his stay at the Venoms family and wishes him the best in his career development,” the statement added.

The club shied away from providing details on who would handle the team in the interim or reveal the successor to the departed coach. The next challenge for the Venoms is against Express FC on December 30th, 2023. Neiva’s exit came just a few hours after Vipers’ 3-2 home loss to current table leaders BUL FC on Friday, which put an end to the team’s long-standing unbeaten streak in league matches at home, dating back to November 27th, 2021, when they lost to URA FC.

There were reports that frustration was mounting among the club’s upper management with Neiva’s general performance following defeats by major rivals KCCA FC and subsequently BUL FC. Neiva had presided over a failed CAF Champions League campaign where they got eliminated at the first preliminary stage by Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy which was his primary role.

He joins a growing list of foreign managers who have worked with Vipers SC including Roberto Oliviera, Javier Martinez, Miguel Duarte Da Costa, and Beto Bianchi.

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