Trio of youngsters promoted to first team squad for pre-season training

Vipers sports club steady programme on rewarding progress and performances right from the youth academy continues to bear fruits as three youngsters have been included in the preseason preparations with a possibility of slots within the senior team.

The graduation of these youthful stars brings the number of academy players who have joined the senior team in the past seven months to five following Aziz Kayondo and Bobosi Byaruhanga who were enlisted during the January mid season registration of players.

Tantalising Karim Watambala, gangling striker Richard Basangwa plus hard rock defender Jacob Okao are the latest inclusions into the senior team following impressive performances during the recently concluded Fufa Juniors League where the Venoms finished second in the treble group behind KCCA Soccer Academy and the schools tournaments. 

And ahead of the club’s first preseason friendly against a visiting Burundian outfit, Coach Micheal Nam Ouma could be set to include some of these youngsters in his match day squad on Saturday as he monitors their progress.

Our academy production line has jolted back into life since 2014 when the emergence of players like Farouk Miya, Keziron Kizito, Dan Birikwalira among others offered increased hope that the club had started producing own stars of the future though looking back at the last couple of years, there hasn’t been much to show apart from Bashir Asiku and Goefrey Wasswa.

The trio was also part of the St Mary’s Secondary School team which captured the Copa Coca Cola cup in Jinja beating home boys Jinja S.S 3-1 in a pulsating encounter to claim a 9th trophy in the school history. 

Striker Basangwa, established himself as a future star with eye catching performances for St Mary’s Kitende in the recently concluded Copa Cola games, his structure makes him unmarkable and on a good day, he is capable of unlocking any solid defence. 

Skillful Watambala is a joy to watch when he gets hold of the ball you could think its tied on his shoe laces, he arrives with plenty of potential and could be thrown into the mix with little delay as it boosts his confidence ahead of an important season. 

Defender Okao the oldest of the trio, has experienced an exponential rise at Kitende since his arrival from Bishop Sacremento Kimanya and with the Venoms eager to keep the pathway open for upcoming talent, the hard rock centre back can capitalise and claim a berth in the team.

With a couple of players set to depart, this is a move in the right direction as the club embarks on preparations for the upcoming season.