Vipers have two interim coaches in Michael Nam Ouma and Edward Golola but they are clearly not entirely in charge of the team.
While losing to Proline FC 2-1 in the Stanbic Uganda Cup quarter-final at StarTimes Stadium Lugogo, a revelation came to life.
Former Kenyan international and veteran coach Tom Olaba followed events of the game from the sidelines.
The former AFC Leopards coach then grabbed his two clutches and made his way to the Vipers dressing rooms, the grabbed his seat in the middle of the away dressing room as Nam Ouma gave his halftime team talk.
It was Olaba’s turn to talk and he did speak with emphasis an authority while dishing out instructions specifically to the forwards.
He then made his way back to his viewing area behind the perimeter fence where he occasionally urged the Venoms to shape up especially going forward.
Unfortunately, his team talk and instruction during the game didn’t spur Vipers to victory as a big League side knocked them out of the competition.
How did he end up at Vipers?
Olaba is a seasoned coach in Kenya who commands respect through the current generation of coaches including Nam Ouma.
And in Uganda on a visit to his junior, Nam Ouma invited him to his workplace at Kitende, sources actually reveal, Olaba also conducted a couple of training sessions and the players fell in love with him.
Reports to the club owner and patron Lawrence Mulindwa were positives and on players’ recommendations to have Olaba longer. Mulindwa obliged and since he has been part of Vipers’ technical team without a designated role.
