Reason For Leaving Vipers Was Not Sporting – Birikwalira Spits Fire

Left back Dan Birikwalira spoke with vehemence as he revealed that he will not miss Vipers after he was “pushed out”.

Birikwalira is one of the players who was released by the Vipers before the start of the upcoming 2020/21 season.

The fullback claims that it was non-football issues that led to his departure from the Kitende-based club.

“There is nothing am going to miss about Vipers for sure, I cannot tell you this or that reason but I will not miss Vipers,” Birikwalira disclosed to The-SportsNation in an exclusive interview.

“The decision to leave is not hard to take only that it wasn’t Sporting or poor performance no, we play football and we know it.”

Derrick Ochan, Brian Nkuubi and Farouk Musisi are the other players reportedly released by the club.

“We don’t leave Vipers because of football issues no, I won’t lie, I don’t want my fans to say that my performance wasn’t good no”, Birikwalira added.

“I left because of other issues from the greedy staff.”

Dan Birikwalira (left) challenges Onduparaka’s Caesar Olegha for the ball. Observer photo

Birikwalira says that his terminated contract had just been renewed in June 2019 for two more years.

He strongly noted that the treacherous and deceitful individuals surrounding Club President Lawrence Mulindwa are ill advising him and are failing the club.

“Organization is the main challenge at Vipers that’s why every year or whenever they win a trophy its like they are try to rebuild a new team, they sign every type of player, they are ill.

“The big problem is that there are dishonest people who pretend to be loyal at the club. Everyone pulls taking to his side.”

We Deserve A Better Send Off

Birikwalira says that Vipers should always appreciate and treat the long serving players fairly.

“The irony is that the players who have done good things for Vipers are the ones who are always released with bad motives,” he continues.

“I have done so many good things for Vipers ever since I was at School, winning trophies but the way we leave is always harsh because even the club cannot appreciate us, I won’t regret saying it and I won’t lie.

“We don’t admire to come back as it is elsewhere with former players at a club, that’s the truth.”

“Just look at Sulaiman Mutyaba, he was at KCCA for just two years but he said he has never seen an organized club like KCCA. Yet he had spent many years at Vipers/Bunamwaya.”

He added that many other long serving players at Vipers cannot speak good of the club like former Captain Kimuli, Joseph Mpande, Juuko Murushid who left with a fractured hand he sustained during the Uganda Cup final against URA and Deus Bukenya among others.

“Look at Sulaiman Mutyaba, Saddam Juma etc they were not appreciated but just terminated their contracts. Even the departure of Nicholas Wadada had some untold stories,” added Birikwalira.

“Few coming players will ever reach the milestones we achieved with Vipers. I have won almost everything during my five-year stay here.”

Dan Birikwalira (right) turning up for St Mary’s SS

Early Days At Vipers

Birikwalira joined Vipers in January 2014 from St Mary’s SS Kitende together with Farouk Miya.

He reflects: “At first I signed a three years contract before extending for another three years in 2016, During my six years contract I was loaned to Bright Stars. When my loan spell expired, I was called to renew my contract again at Vipers for two more years and I signed on 1st-06-2019 but it was effective 23-03-2020.”

On his early days at the club, he reflects;

“I was a left back with Kazibwe Isma in the second round of 2014. I didn’t get get much playing time in my debut campaign in the second round. Then in my second season with the club in 2015/16, I played very well winning the trophy, and later I started proving people that I know football even in the CAF Champions League I had a very good performance.

“I managed to fulfill some of the club’s objectives like winning trophies, qualifying for CAF Champions League as well as putting up a good performance.”

Birikwalira leaves Vipers after winning four trophies in five years – two league titles, Uganda Cup and FUFA Super cup.

Birikwalira receives the Masaza Cup trophy from Kabaka. Courtesy

Relationship With Club President Lawrence Mulindwa

“I would like to thank Dr Lawrence Mulindwa for the five years I have been at Vipers, we have been communicating very well until the “Nakigwanyizi” spoiled our relationship, because they disliked any relationship between the players and the Doctor. They always feel insecure. But some of us have personal connections with the President, even when I lost my dad, Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa was always there for me and Mama Claire as well.”

Bemoans Coach;

“There us a certain football coach which you all know who once said that I shouldn’t be summoned to the National team because I am too short,” Birikwalira adds.

“One of the coaches told me during Cranes Namutima game in Gulu that you know we have many left backs Joseph Ochaya, Godfrey Walusimbi, Isaac Muleme so you are the fourth in the pecking order, though you are good we won’t select you, I wanted to ask him whether I should give them poison, football is a competition put us in the field and we prove ourselves.

What Next?

Birikwalira says that he will soon be unveiled at his new club.

“I promise all my fans that anytime very soon I am coming back and they will see the team that will unveil me. They should expect a different person this time. So I request that you should be patient, it will be massive, thank you for believing in me my fans”.

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