UPL: Vipers release 14 players deemed excess baggage at Kitende

Startimes Uganda Premier League defending champions, Vipers Sports Club has released a total of 14 players deemed excess to capacity at Kitende.

In a statement released on Monday, players including goalkeeper Derrick Ochan, Dan Birikwalira, Joseph Janjali, Dickens Okwir, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Duncan Seninde, Brian Nkuubi , Farouk Musisi, Brian Kalumba, Tom Masiko, Steven Mukwala, Tito Okello, Fred Atuhwera,  Baden Mujahid have been deemed excess baggage and have since been shown the exit.

“Vipers Sports Club has confirmed various players who are leaving the club on mutual consent as coach Fred Kajoba shapes his squad in readiness for the upcoming season,” the Kitende based club said.

“Leading the list of departures is midfielder Brian Nkuubi who has been at Kitende for five years establishing himself as a vital cog within the team before injuries left him out of favour.”

The team said the arrival of David Bagoole from Busoga United has made it inevitable for Nkuubi, 26 to be shown the exit.

The club also announced that goalkeeper Derrick Ochan whose contract still had two years to wind up, “mutually consented” on his departure to “seek for more playing time elsewhere” whereas left-back Birikwalira is also on his way out.

The pint-sized defender was earlier this week quoted in some section of the media saying he had not been treated fairly at Vipers.

“There is nothing I am going to miss about Vipers for sure, I cannot tell you this or that reason but I will not miss Vipers. The decision to leave is not hard to take only that it wasn’t Sporting or poor performance no, we play football and we know it. We don’t leave Vipers because of football issues no, I won’t lie, I don’t want my fans to say that my performance wasn’t good,” Birikwalira told The-SportsNation, a local sports website.

The defending champions announced that Joseph Janjali, Dickens Okwir,Ibrahim Kiyemba, Duncan Seninde and Farouk Musisi who have been on loan at various clubs are also leaving after mutually terminating their existing contracts whereas Tom Masiko, Tito Okello, Fred Atuhwera and Baden Mujahid are leaving as free agents.

The club however announced the acquisition of Disan Galiwango (Express), Ibrahim (Mbarara City), Jamil Kalisa (Bright Stars) and David Bagoole (Busoga United) as replacements to the excess baggage.