Vipers SC have announced the arrival of another Brazilian coach Jose Esdras Costa Lopez at Kitende.

Lopez has joined the Venoms as an assistant coach on a two-year employment contract, as Vipers look to strengthen their coaching department headed by another Brazilian Leo Neiva.

The Brazilian has already started working with the reigning Uganda Premier League Champions.
The 65 year old now joins other assistant coaches at Vipers including Richard Wasswa, Richard Bakabulindi Kasule, Ibrahim Mugisha and Democratic Republic of Congo native Lukusa Kayembe Raoul.

Lopez has been coaching football since the 1980s, when he managed Sao Cristovao Futebol e Regatas in Brazil (1987-1990).

He has also had coaching roles at SC Rucife, Fluminense FC, America FC, Goias SC, SC Bahia, Caldense SC, Mogi Mirim ES, Verdy Kawzaki in Japan, Al Wasl Club in UAE, Al Saad in Qatar and Club Alianza Lima in Peru.

Lopez also had other coaching spells at Uberaba SC, Botafogo Football de Regatas, Sharja SC (UAE), Gremio Esportivo Juventus, Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE), Al Garaga in Qatar, Al Shorta in Iraq and Muharraq SC in Bahrain.

His most notable stints had him at Petro Atletico de Luanda (Angola) as an assistant and physical coach in 2004, Smouha SC in Egypt as an assistant head coach in the 2017/18 season and as head coach of Thailand between 2003-2004.

However, Lopez’s most recent job had him at Taguatinga Esporte Clube as a Physical Coach in Brazil between December 2021 to March 2022.

Vipers expectations are that their new coach will be able to relatively apply his over three decades’ coaching experience to good effect as Vipers seek to retain the UPL as well as compete favorably in the Uganda Cup.

As a player, Lopez featured for Fluminense (1973-1977), Olaria FC (1978-1980) and Estrala do norte (1981) in Brazil.

He also played for Oliveirense (1981-1982) and Maritimo between 1983-1984, with both sides in Portugal.