Vipers SC Coach Explains Why CECAFA Kagame Cup Is Not the Club's Top Priority

Fresh off winning the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League title, Vipers SC head into the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Venoms face a challenging Group A journey alongside host club APR FC, Kenya's Gor Mahia, and Djibouti's Garde Républicaine.

Spearheaded by newly appointed head coach Denis Lavagne, the 24-man squad is boosted by the return of marquee stars Farouk Miya and César Manzoki.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Vipers SC head coach Denis Lavagne acknowledged that his side is still building towards full match fitness ahead of their first match but expressed confidence that the team has made encouraging progress during pre-season.

The coach explained that the tournament comes at an important stage of the club's preparations, with the technical bench using the competition to sharpen the squad ahead of the new season.

While admitting the players are yet to reach peak condition, he said the work completed over the past three weeks has laid a solid foundation and given the team confidence heading into their opening fixture.

Denis Lavagne praised the commitment and attitude shown by his players throughout training, noting that they had responded well to the demands of pre-season and continued to improve with each session.

"The stadium is very, very good. I am impressed by the stadium and Kigali. But we are really not 100% because we are in pre-season. But we have been working for three weeks. And the players did a very good job in the training. I think we can play a good game tomorrow. But we are not ready 100%. But we are ready to fight to win this game," he said.

The coach further explained that while Vipers SC are determined to compete strongly at the CECAFA Kagame Cup, the tournament forms part of the club's broader pre-season programme rather than its ultimate target for the campaign.

Coach Denis Lavagne revealed that the team's primary focus remains on being fully prepared for the Ugandan Super Cup on August 23, which will officially mark the start of their domestic season.

Beyond that, he said the club is also prioritising its title ambitions in the Uganda Premier League and a strong campaign in the CAF Champions League, competitions he described as the key benchmarks for the season.

Despite those long-term objectives, coach Denis Lavagne insisted Vipers would not take the CECAFA Kagame Cup lightly. He said the regional tournament provides the technical bench with a valuable opportunity to assess the squad in competitive matches, improve tactical cohesion and build momentum ahead of the challenges that lie ahead.

Luyinda stressed that balancing competitiveness with player welfare will be crucial, explaining that the technical bench is keen to avoid overburdening key players during pre-season as they prepare for a demanding campaign across domestic and continental competitions.

"For us, the season starts on August 23, when we play the Super Cup in Uganda. But the CECAFA tournament is a very good preparation for us. And we have to do our best to win the game when we play. It's not the first objective of the team. The first objective is August 23, and we are about to have the Championship and the Champions League to play," he said.

"This is the main objective of the club. But the CECAFA tournament is very good, and we will do our best for this. We are not ready, but I think all the teams are in the same situation. So we have to manage the time of the players in the game. And I don't want some players playing too much and getting injured. So you have to manage this at the same time."