Vipers SC appoint Lavagne as head coach 

Vipers SC have confirmed the appointment of Frenchman Denis Lavagne as the club’s new head coach on a two-year contract. 

The 61-year-old replaces Belgian Ivan Jacky Minnaert, who left the club by mutual consent at the end of the 2025–26 season.

Lavagne arrives at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende with close to three decades of coaching experience across Europe, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, having managed both club and national teams.

He enjoyed two successful spells with Cameroonian side Coton Sport, winning four Elite One league titles and three Cameroon Cups, while also guiding the club to the 2008 CAF Champions League final.

His coaching career has also included spells with the Cameroon national team, Etoile du Sahel, Al Ittihad Alexandria, Smouha SC, MAS Fez, Free State Stars, Al-Hilal Omdurman, CS Constantine, JS Kabylie, USM Alger, Azam FC, as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Lavagne has built a reputation for organising disciplined and competitive teams capable of challenging for domestic honours while regularly competing in CAF competitions.

The Frenchman will work alongside assistant coach John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda, who remains on the club’s technical bench, while Belgian Salmi Yassine joins as head of performance and fitness.

The trio will begin preparations for the new campaign, with Vipers set to defend their Uganda Premier League title while also competing in the Stanbic Uganda Cup, CECAFA Kagame Cup and CAF Champions League.

Lavagne at a glance

• Name: Denis Lavagne
• Age: 61
• Contract: Two years
• Assistant coach: John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda
• Head of performance & fitness: Salmi Yassine
• CAF Champions League: Finalist (2008, Coton Sport)
• CAF Confederation Cup: Runner-up (2021, JS Kabylie)
• League titles: Cameroon (4), Sudan (1)
• National team managed: Cameroon
• Countries coached in: France, Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Algeria, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China.