20 July 2023 | Football

Uganda Premier League Champions Vipers SC have finally unveiled Brazilian tactician Leonard Martins Neiva as their new head coach.

Leo Neiva replaces Alex Isabirye who departed from the Kitende shortly after scooping a domestic double, a first of a kind to be lifted by the Venoms.

The gaffer is not new at East Africa having won the Super Cup and the League Cup with Tanzania's Young African in the 2014/15 season.

While speaking to the Vipers' media he revealed his plans of creating a playing style and culture.

“I look forward to developing a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of,” Neiva was quoted by the club's official website.

“I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Vipers SC interests. This is a fantastic club and I am excited to be here and look forward to meeting and working with an exciting group of players,” he added.

He becomes the third Brazilian to take up the coaching role at Vipers. Before him came Roberto Oliveira and Beto Bianchi Pellister whose stay was not much loved by the Venoms.

A true journey-man

Neiva's journey got underway in 2007 as he was named at America CF in Rio de Janeiro as the assistant head coach.

In the 2008-2009 season, he moved onto the African soil and his first assignment was at South Africa's Platinum Stars as an academy coach.

He later returned to Brazil at Bonsucesso-RJ before he took on the mantle as head coach of Yadanarborn FC.

In the 2011-12 season, he was named head coach of Rakhine United in Myanmar before he returned to Brazil at Associacao Atletica Francana.

Neiva, in 2014, moved to Young Africans before he moved to Jamaica's Montego Bay United in 2016.

In 2019, he once again returned to Brazil at Clube Atletico Itapemirim for a year before he was named head coach of the Saint Kitts and Nevis national team.

His most recent appointment was with the Al-Merrikh where he was sacked after 51 days before managing a single competitive game.

Leonard Martins Neiva's Journey

2007: América (Assistant)
2008-2009: Platinum Stars F.C. (Youth)
2010: Bonsucesso
2010-2011: Yadanarbon F.C. (Youth)
2011/2012: Rakhine United FC
2013: Associação Atlética Francana
2014/2015: Young Africans SC
2015/2016: Montego Bay United
2016/2017: Yadanarbon F.C.
2017: Thai Honda F.C.
2019/2020: Clube Atlético Itapemirim
2021: Saint Kitts and Nevis
2021/2022: Al-Merrikh SC

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