The start to life at Vipers could have been better for Neiva, whose first competitive game saw his side eliminated from the FUFA Super 8 Tournament by BUL FC early this month.
Football has many shocks, but Vipers SC firing new head coach Leonard Martins Neiva after a couple of games would not be one of them.
In fact, failure to get a result good enough to see Vipers progress to the next round of the CAF Champions League Preliminaries could see the man shown the exit door or left operating in the red zone.
The Venoms are looking to make the group stages for another year running but now find themselves with a two-goal deficit going into the return leg of their preliminary round against Botswana outfit Jwaneng Galaxy.
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Vipers SC's recent 2-0 setback against Jwaneng Galaxy in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League hasn't dampened the spirits of the team.
The Startimes Uganda Premier League champions fell 2-0 in Botswana and have it all to do in Sunday’s second game.
They will need nothing short of a comprehensive victory to get to the last hurdle.
Vipers tested the Champions League group stages last season but got a baptism of fire in their debut campaign. The only way to improve those performances is by going back to the same level year in and year out, and it starts with winning the league and getting through the Preliminary rounds.
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A 5-0 pummelling by Raja Casablanca welcomed the Venoms to the big table, and what followed were identical 1-0 defeats to Tanzania’s Simba, a 2-0 loss to Horoya and two draws, 0-0 with Horoya at Kitende and 1-1 with Raja.
Poor start
The start to life at Vipers could have been better for Neiva, whose first competitive game saw his side eliminated from the FUFA Super 8 Tournament by BUL FC early this month.
That was just the Super 8, though, and serious business and indeed, all the focus is on the Champions League. But with that loss in Botswana, the Venoms are on the brink of elimination.
Defeat will not be an option on Saturday, and depending on how things unfold, Vipers could be in search of a new manager.
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Having lost 2-0 in the first leg, Vipers will need a 3-0 victory in the return leg to progress to the next round, where the winner between Comoros’ Djabal FC and South Africa’s Orlando Pirates awaits.
It is safe to say Neiva is a man under immense pressure, two losses into his Vipers career.
Having replaced Alex Isabirye, who helped the club to a first League and Cup double, Neiva cannot be allowed to lower the standards.