Vipers SC coach Ivan Minnaert has urged his players to stay united as the Ugandan champions continue their quest for a place in the CAF Champions League group stages.
The Venoms earned a narrow 1-0 triumph over Namibia’s African Stars in the preliminary round, but Minnaert admitted the real task lies in building cohesion within his squad.
“There is still more work to do. It has not been easy to get all the players together into a team,” the Belgian tactician noted to the press after the match.
With domestic fixtures around the corner, Minnaert is already shifting his attention back to league duties, warning that the journey ahead will be just as demanding.
“But we have a league game coming up, and we have to prepare because it’s going to be a tough challenge,” he remarked.
📸| Some photos from yesterday’s win against Namibia’s African Stars FC as we progressed to the second preliminary round of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL.#VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/ZKSYo1ODtg
— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) September 28, 2025
The coach also pointed to the intensity of the schedule, explaining that squad depth will be tested in the coming weeks. He revealed that rotation will play a critical role, especially as international duty threatens to strip him of key players.
“We have a deep squad, and we shall have to do some rotation. Ahead of the FIFA International, some players will be leaving, but we hope it ends soon so we get back to work,” Minnaert explained.
