Vipers unveil new Brazilian-Portuguese coach

Costa Esdras Lopez has been appointed at Vipers|VIPERS SC IMAGE

FOOTBALL Vipers unveil new Brazilian-Portuguese coach

Allan Damba • 11:22 - 12.10.2023

The newly appointed links up with other assistant coaches, including Richard Wasswa and Democratic Republic of Congo coach Lukusa Kayembe Raoul.

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC have completed the appointment of Brazilian-Portuguese coach Jose Esdras Costa Lopez.

Costa Lopez has joined the Venoms as an assistant coach for the next two years.

The 65-year-old becomes the second Brazilian on the technical bench after head coach Leonardo Martins Neiva.

Leo Neiva in training with Vipers|Vipers Image

The newly appointed links up with other assistant coaches, including Richard Wasswa and Democratic Republic of Congo coach Lukusa Kayembe Raoul.

It should be noted that Lopez boasts over 30 years of coaching experience that dates back to the late 1980s as head coach of Sao Cristovao Futebol e Regatas in Brazil (1987-1990).

He previously coached at SC Rucife, Fluminense FC, America FC, Goias SC, SC Bahia, Caldense SC, Mogi Mirim ES, Verdy Kawasaki 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.

In Africa, he has spells at Petro Atletico de Luanda (Angola) as an assistant and physical coach in 2004 and Smouha SC in Egypt as an assistant head coach in the 2017/18 season.

Lopez has also previously held the head coach role for the Thailand national senior football team between 2003 and 2004.

His latest job, however, had him at Taguatinga Esporte Clube as a Physical Coach in Brazil between December 2021 and March 2022.

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.

Lopez will be expected to ease Neiva's job further with his coaching experience, given the fact that they're compatriots who share a language and perhaps, ideas.

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