Brazilian Coach Neiva happy to join Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC

Newly appointed Vipers SC head coach, Leonard Martins Neiva has said he is happy and excited upon joining the Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC.

“I am very happy that I now start a new challenge. I like challenges and I am here to try and win trophies with Vipers SC, ” said the 45-year old coach.

Neiva who signed a two year contract was unveiled on Thursday at the St. Marys Stadium, home of Vipers SC in Kitende, Mpigi. He takes over from Alex Isabirye who resigned last week after guiding Vipers SC to winning the Uganda Premier League title and the Uganda Cup.

The new coach who has handled teams in North America, the Caribbean, South East Asia and Africa said he is excited to be joining Vipers SC. ” Hard work will start immediately,” said the Brazilian.

Neiva who started his coaching as an assistant coach at America CF in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007, also handled Rakhine United between 2011-2012 in the Myanmar National League.

He coached Tanzania’s Young Africans SC in 2014 and won the 2014/2015 Tanzanian Super Cup and the 2014/15 Premier League, but later left to join Jamaican side Montego Bay United and helped them win the national championship in 2016. Neiva also handled the national teams of Saint Kitts and Nevis and later joined Sudan’s El Merreikh in 2021.

Neiva is the third Brazilian coach to handle Vipers SC in their history after Beto Bianchi Pellister and Roberto Oliviera who guided them to the group stage of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League group stage.

Other Uganda Premier League teams KCCA FC and SC Villa have signed foreign professional Sergio Daniel Moniz Traguil from Portugal and Serbia’s Dusan Stojanovic respectively ahead of the new season expected to kick off next month.