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But the 26-year-old was the hero on what was arguably one of the finest nights for the club, as he scored in a 1-1 draw against Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League.
Alex Isabirye professed that he has been impressed by forward Abubakar Lawal in his short time at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, and has backed the Nigerian to play a major role for Vipers in the coming months.
Lawal was a high profile signing for Vipers in July 2022, on a two year contract from Rwandan club AS Kigali, but had failed to live up to expectations, and was nearly mooted from the club in January.
But the 26-year-old was the hero on what was arguably one of the finest nights for the club, as he scored in a 1-1 draw against Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League.
The goal also wrote another bit of history, as it was the club’s first in the group stages of the CAF Champions League as well as Lawal’s first goal for the club.
Asked specifically what is different about Pepe now, Isabirye said: “His attitude, his character, the way he is communicating with everybody, his energy.”
“I have been impressed with the way he has trained. His efficiency in training, his application, and for me I feel those are the characters that the club needs at this moment.”
“If he can stay at that level, then he can play many more minutes and he can contribute to the team because he has the ability to do it,” he continued.
Lawal has started both games under Isabirye despite playing only five minutes under former coach Beto Bianchi, and had started only three of the six games he played before the turn of the new year.
Isabirye has constantly reciprocated the need to have bigger characters and better attitudes as core attributes to rebuilding the club and restoring it to its level last season.
And he is using Lawal as an example to drive that narrative, suggesting that everyone who is ready to work and show the right mentality to playing for Vipers will get a chance.
“I promise to give each and everyone of the players a chance,” isabirye explained, adding “I have always said they are all good individuals and talented players.”
“So, I believe everyone has a chance to play like you have seen Lawal, but they have to show that maybe they deserve to be in the team.”
After their elimination from the CAF Champions League, Vipers now turn their focus on their title defence, as well as the Uganda Cup where they reached the quarter finals.
The current StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions are seven points behind leaders and rivals KCCA in fourth.
They play their next home game on March 5, against Maroons FC, over 40 days since their last league game.
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