How and why did the defender leave Sweden for Vipers Sports Club
Defender Bob Oluoch, 25, was officially declared a Vipers Sports Club player after Venoms secured its International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from Sweden on Wednesday 16th February 2022.
“We are delighted to announce the successful acquisition of Bob Oluoch for the next three years. The midfielder has been kept from playing for his new club due to paperwork. But it is official that the approval has finally come through.” Vipers published on their official website.
The former St Mary’s Secondary School student and Kampala Junior Team (KJT) – Rwenshama player had spent eight seasons in a row in Sweden where he appeared with Lüdvika FK, Växjö United and recently Ljungby IF Sports Clubs.
After being officially unveiled, the intelligent defender openly expressed his desire to contribute immensely to Viper’s success.
After playing in Europe for almost a decade, I take with me the (European) experience and I know we will win trophies here, because that’s what Vipers Sports Club is all about.
Bob Oluoch, Vipers SC defender
The decision for Oluoch to return home and build from scratch may have shocked many.
But it should be noted that he is not the first player to leave a foreign-based club and return home to start life anew.
Midfielder Moses Waiswa (now in Super Sport United) joined the Vipers in January 2017 from Sweden.
He then established a cult status in the club before receiving the much-appreciated call to the Uganda Cranes and later landed a lucrative deal with the South African Premier League club.
In fact, Waiswa is a great motivator for the defender. The two players played together at St Mary’s Kitende and in Sweden at Växjö United.
Denis Namanya, the director of Prosper Sports Agency who brokered the deal, acknowledges the bold fact that sometimes the best decision is to go back home to build a new one.
When Bob (Oluoch) went to Sweden in 2015, we were all happy. We had a close communication for several years. Returning home will help him prove further as one of the best defenders of his generation.
Denis Namanya, director of Prosper Sports Agency and intermediary for Bob Oluoch
The close relationship that Olouch had with Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, CEO of Vipers, also hastened his return home.
Dr. Mulindwa’s fatherly position to the majority of his former students at St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School, Kitende has always left the door open for many.
It was therefore easy for Olouch to return “home” as it was for Moses Waiswa and Brian “Kaka” Kakaire in the past.
Olouch’s addition to Viper’s squad is good news that comes at an appropriate time when the Uganda Premier League 2021-2022 comes to the last curve when Venoms leads the table.
Definitely, there is now guaranteed troop depth, especially in the central defense department where another new recruit Hillary Mukundane was captured from Mbarara City.
The department already had alternatives in the skipper Halid Lwaliwa, Bashir Asiku and the rock-hard Livingstone Mulondo.
This explains why the Vipers had already loaned out two junior midfielders Jacob Okao and Ahmed Amayo to Onduparaka and UPDF respectively.
Vipers visit UPDF this Friday, 18th February 2022 at Army Military Barracks Stadium (Amayo will not play for embedded loan clauses).
The entire football fraternity is eagerly awaiting Bob Olouch’s return after an 8-year absence since he last played for KJT / Rwenshama.
Will Olouch make his debut against UPDF? You guess is good as mine.
Detailed profile:
- Full name: Bob Oluoch
- Nationality: Uganda
- Date of birth: 7th December 1997
- Place: Mitthalva
- Key attributes: Good game reading, aggressive, excellent nod of the ball
- Weight: 70 kg
- Height: 177 cm
Football trip (clubs)
- 2014 – KJT / Rwenshama (Uganda)
- 2015 – Lüdvika FK (Sweden)
- 2016 – Växjö United (Sweden)
- 2017 –Ljungby IF (Sweden)
- February 2022: Vipers Sports Club (Uganda)
*Further information from Viper’s official website