UPL Champions Vipers unveil Mexican as head coach  

Uganda Premier League defending champions, Vipers Sports Club have unveiled Javier Martinez Espinosa, 46 from Mexico as their head coach.

Despite winning for them the league title, Portuguese tactician Miguel Da Costa was last month shown the exit as the Kitende based coach, after spending only 17 months in charge of the team.

On Monday, the club unveiled Espinosa as their coach to replace Da Costa.

“As Vipers, we have achieved little, and we want to achieve a lot. Changing a coach is an expensive venture but we wanted a coach who is a teacher and one who adds value to the players,” Vipers director Lawrence Mulindwa said during the unveiling ceremony at the St. Mary’s stadium.

“Our Dream as a club is to sell players to Europe, see the growth of players and also ensure that our players are being summoned to the national team.”

Despite winning the league, the Portuguese lost the Uganda Cup to KCCA FC and also had a disastrous CECAFA cup campaign, prompting the club to show him the exit having lasted only one season.

Speaking to media on Monday, Mulindwa said that part of their five year strategic plan was making Vipers the number one club in the country but noted this is still work in progress, adding that with recruitment of a new tactician, they hope to have the dream come true.

He revealed that they had a rigorous process to get a new coach by choosing from 11 applicants including seven from outside Africa before zeroing in on the Mexican.

Javier Martinez has signed a two year renewable contract with Vipers.

Speaking shortly after his unveiling, the new tactician promised to lift the club to greater heights.

“I promise to be the best. I promise everything I have to perfect this project. I want to be an example, not just for destiny,” Martinez said.

“I promise to the fans that this team will be  the best here in Uganda and outside the country.”

The Mexican has coached at Cruz Azul, Montrere and Pachuoi in Mexico and in Nacaragua.