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Kajoba walks out on Vipers to keep Cranes job
Enough with the pain. Kajoba. Photo | Eddie Chicco
What you need to know:
- The point of divergence arose from Kajoba’s involvement with the Uganda Cranes where he has been the goalkeeping coach for more than a decade.
Vipers are in a mad rush to find a new head coach after Fred Kajoba resigned, yesterday, following friction with management over his involvement with the national team.
The former UPDF and Bright Stars coach informed the club he joined in January 2020 of his decision after Monday morning’s training session.
“I have resigned from the Vipers job,” Kajoba confirmed when contacted.
The point of divergence arose from Kajoba’s involvement with the Uganda Cranes where he has been the goalkeeping coach for more than a decade.
“When I returned from the Cranes training on Monday morning, [Vipers technical director] Charles Masembe asked me to choose between the club and national team. I decided to stay with the Cranes,” Kajoba said.
The Cranes are preparing for a friendly away in South Africa next week. Since they train in the morning, Kajoba had shifted the Vipers’ sessions to the afternoon. But this is reported to have upset authorities at the club.
Kajoba leaves at a critical stage of the season with the club in pursuit of a league and cup double. They face SC Villa in the Stanbic Uganda Cup quarterfinal second leg tomorrow.
The four-time league champions lie third in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League on 56 points, two behind leaders Express.
Kajoba won the league with Vipers last season – although the season was ended prematurely with five games to play due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many local coaches, including Cranes interim coach Abdallah Mubiru, have always faced questions about their ability to balance between national team and club engagements.
Over the past decade, Kajoba has been able to cope with the two jobs. However, none of his previous teams competes at the level of Vipers.
He is thankful for the opportunity.
