A familiar face in African football is back on the sidelines, coaching football again this season. And it’s all taking place hundreds of miles from the site of one month stint of coaching instruction.
After a season out of coaching due to lack of proper papers, Brazilian gaffer Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo a.k.a Robertinho has been hired to lead Uganda Premier League side Vipers SC.
The former Gor Mahia coach, Robertinho has replaced Fred Kajjoba who was forced out of the club by the controversial football administrator Charles Masembe, who serves as Vipers’ Technical Director.
Robertinho was unable to coach Gor Mahia after Football Kenya Federation claimed that he did not possess the requisite qualification papers to oversee the Kenyan side at continental competitions.
The 61-year-old gaffer was barred from sitting on the bench during their African Champions league preliminary round clash away to Rwandan outfit APR for not having CAF A License or UEFA Pro License, which is required for all coaches participating in the African football governing body’s inter-club competitions.
However, Vipers chairman Lawrence Mulindwa announced before a packed press conference at St Mary’s Kitende Stadium press room on Friday afternoon they have hired the services of the disputed coach.
“He is a Brazilian with a winning mentality but beyond that, his understanding of the game is precisely where Vipers want to be and we will offer him all the support we can to make Vipers the number one club not only in Uganda but also Africa,” said Mulindwa.
On his part, the over ambitious coach informed the club supporters: “I came here to be a champion. We have the same direction as the Vipers. My philosophy is good football and attacking football with a good balance between young and experienced players.”
Robertinho was previously in-charge Rwanda Football League side Rayon Sports where he resigned in October 2019 after the club failed to agree with his agent on salary.
The former Brazil international also had stints in Tunisia where he was in-charge of Stade Tunisien and in Angola where he spent two seasons Angola’s Atlético Sport Aviação.
