After only two months in charge, reigning Uganda Premier League champions and 2022-23 CAF Champions League group stage participants Vipers SC decided to part ways with head coach Roberto “Beto” Bianchi this week. The Brazilian always had a difficult task ahead of him and failed to impress after succeeding compatriot Robertinho who led the club to new heights before departing for Tanzanian club Simba SC. Vipers have yet to name a new head coach and thanked Bianchi for his time at the club in a brief statement announcing the termination of his contract.
Bianchi arrived with high expectations after Vipers qualified for the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time in their history, with club president and director Lawrence Mulindwa proclaiming the club’s goal was to qualify for the knockout stages of the continental competition. Vipers could only earn one point through four games in Group C and are all but eliminated from the chase for a top-two position in the group that would qualify them for the quarterfinals.
Under Bianchi the club struggled in domestic competition as well with zero goals scored in seven matches across all competitions, including needing penalties to defeat second tier side Jinja North in the Uganda Cup after a 0-0 draw. Vipers are currently in fourth position in the Uganda Premier League table, seven points back of KCCA FC with a repeat of their title-winning exploits looking more and more unlikely.
