Activity in the local player transfer market has picked up moment in recent days, with the StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions, Vipers SC, boosting their squad by acquiring Marvin Youngman from Bright Stars FC.
On the other hand, former league champions KCCA FC released eight players who were deemed surplus to requirement at the Lugogo-based club.
According to club officials, the signing of Youngman is part of Vipers’ wider plan to beef up their squad as the Kitende-based club prepares to defend the Ugandan league title and also compete on the continent in the CAF Champions League next season.
Youngman was one of the best-performing midfielders in the league as he helped Bright Stars to an eleventh position finish on the 16-team table standings last season.
He joins Vipers after the Kitende side lost Ceasar Manzoki, one of the key members of the league title-winning squad. Manzoki joined Tanzania giants Simba SC recently.
Local League pundits say the addition of Youngman to Vipers’ ranks brings the much-needed competition to the team’s midfield.
“Youngman is a good box-to-box kind of midfielder who will compete for a starting role with Bobosi Byaruhanga,” said John Vianney Nsimbe, a television pundit and writer for The Observer newspaper.
Meanwhile, KCCA FC coach Morley Byekwaso dropped eight players including former international Patrick Kaddu and Erisa Ssekisambu from his squad for next season. Others released are Davis Kasirye, Samson Kigozi, Innocent Wafula, Gift Ali, Joseph Bukenya and Yassar Mugerwa.
The club spokesman said the aforementioned players either had expired contracts or were terminated on mutual understanding.
