Vipers secure Best services for Champions League

KAMPALA- League champions Vipers yesterday unveiled George ‘Best’ Nsimbe as their new head coach, replacing Edward Golola, who guided the team to last year’s league title.

Nsimbe, who signed a three-year contract, joins the two-time league champions just four months after penning a one-year deal with fellow Azam Uganda Premier League side, The Saints. His arrival comes just a week before Vipers make their Caf Champions League bow against Nigerian side Enyimba at Nakivubo next Friday.

“He is a seasoned coach and I am sure with his experience he will be of great help. He knows the players well and doesn’t need so much time to settle in,” club owner Lawrence Mulindwa said during the coach’s unveiling at Kitende yesterday.

Although Mulindwa didn’t shed more light on Golola’s new position at the club, it is believed he will assist Nsimbe. Richard Wasswa, the hitherto assistant drops to the club’s under-17 team.

“This is a family and we have not fired anyone. We are rather just strengthening the club’s coaching department,” a jovial Mulindwa asserted. Nsimbe oversaw 10 matches at Saints, winning two and drawing twice.

He recorded six losses and leaves The Saints second-bottom midway through the season.

The former Cranes player brings a wealth of experience to Vipers having previously won league titles with KCCA in 2008, 2013 and 2014 as well as the Uganda Cup with Victors in 2010.

As expected, The Saints are contesting Nsimbe’s move. They insisted yesterday the coach is still contracted to them. The club wrote to the Fufa Competitions Committee yesterday demanding for compensation before any deal to Vipers is finalised.

“The last time we talked, Vipers proposed to pay us Shs.4m as compensation which we felt was way below our valuation,” a bitter Saints chairman Johnson Musinguzi said yesterday.

Nsimbe’s Caf competitions record (KCC and Vcitors)
14 matches played; 3-wins; 6-draws;
5-losses

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