Vipers Sports Club appoint Mexican Javier Martinez as a new head coach

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers has officially unveiled Mexican Javier Martinez Espinosa as their new head coach.

The 46 year old has experience in coaching having handled Nicaragua side Juventus Sports Club, Cruz Azul, Montrere and Pachuo in Mexico.

Martinez beat other 11 contestants to the job; two of whom were Ugandans, two from the African continent and the other seven from elsewhere in the world.

Club patron George Mulindwa and the head of Marketing Simon Ssekankya, Dr Mulindwa had a moment to thank former Vipers head coach Daurte Miguel Da Costa who guided the club to the home title.

I want to salute coach Da Costa and his technical team for winning the league title in 2017/18 season. Changing a coach is not mere change of guards, but it is a project which is work is in progress. African illness of getting contented with the little you have is not good. As Vipers, we have achieved little, and we want to achieve a lot. Changing a coach is an expensive venture. Let us welcome Javier Martinez from Mexico as our next coach.

New coach Martinez also managed to speak a few words from the widely spoken local dialect – luganda; saying Mwebale nnyo (literally translated “thank you”). He spoke with confidence about the readiness for the task ahead of him;

I have personal and professional targets. I am a former professional player. I always to be an example as a player. Now, I want to be an example to Vipers players. We have to be protagonists in the Africa Champions League. There is a target to defend the domestic league trophy. I promise to be the best. We have a good squad. We shall do the best for Uganda and Vipers. I promise everything I have to perfect this project. I want to be an example, not just for destiny. An example outside the country, as well. I promise to the fans that this team will be best here in Uganda and outside the country.

Martinez becomes the third foreign coach in Vipers’ history to hand the club after Ambrose Chukuma (Nigeria) and recently Da Costa (Portuguese).