Vipers SC beat the odds to dump five-time winners, TP Mazembe out of the CAF Champions League to advance for their first-ever group stages in the competition.

After 180 minutes, the two had tied at 0-0, with the Venoms going on to win 4-2 via penalty shootouts, at the Stade TP Mazembe on Saturday.

The Kitende side’s head coach, Roberto Oliveira alias Robertinho has revealed what made his team tick on hostile territory.

“We knew we had to play a certain way because this is the Champions League and not the Uganda Premier League or Uganda Cup,” stated the Brazilian via Vipers’ media.

“So, along with my captain, and my coaches, we made important and correct decisions during the week,” he added.

“We reduced spaces on the pitch between three compartments, and that was positive because TP Mazembe didn’t have a chance (freedom) to play on the right or the left side.

The 62-year-old deployed Murushid Juuko, Livingstone Mulondo, Hillary Mukundane, Isa Mubiru, and Ashraf Mandela in a solid and compressed backline, and was full to the task.

“Special praise to my defensive players as they played very well and now, Vipers is at a higher level.”

He later introduced Disan Galiwango, Marvin Joseph Youngman, and Bright Anukani for Abdu Lumala, Siraje Ssentamu (injured), and Mubiru to condense the game even more.

The tactician continues to enjoy huge successes at Kitende, less than two years in his role.

He won the Uganda Cup and the League in his first year, added a silver in the former, and has now taken the Venoms to their maiden experience in the group stages of the continent’s most coveted club competition.