Vipers’ preparations for Sunday’s CAF Champions League match against Horoya AC (of Guinea Conakry) got a timely boost with the clearance of defender Nzau Miguel Lutumba on Wednesday, February 15.
Angolan-born defender Lutumba signed for Vipers in the recent January transfer window but his paper work was pending due to lack of certain documents from his former club Muscat of Oman Professional League.
However, on Wednesday, Vipers confirmed in a statement on its website that Lutumba secured the documents to represent the Venoms in the CAF Champions League.
This is good news for coach Bianchi Beto, who haplessly watched on as Vipers shipped in five goals against Raja Casablanca during last weekend’s game in Morocco.
Lutumba, 31, has played in topflight leagues in Angola, Bangladesh and Oman. His experience could come in handy in strengthening Vipers’ defence, which has veteran Murushid Juuko as well as youngsters Hilary Mukundane, Bashir Asiku, Livingstone Mulondo and Rogers Torach.
against Raja Casablanca last week
Meanwhile, Vipers squeezed into the last-16 stage of the Stanbic Uganda Cup after eliminating lower division Jinja North United 7-6 on post-match penalties on Wednesday, February 15. The game played at Kakindu stadium ended 0-0 in normal time.
This was the third consecutive game in which Vipers failed to score in 90 minutes, following their 0-0 draw with Bujumbura United and the 0-5 loss to Raja Casablanca last week.