When Allan Okello left Vipers SC for Yanga Sports Club in Tanzania during the mid-season transfer window earlier this year, there was a sense that his departure would have a significant impact on the Kitende-based side’s attack. However, with the adage that nature never allows for a vacuum, up stepped midfielder Karim Watambala to fill the boots of the erstwhile Vipers star boy. And without a doubt, Watambala has been the star of this Vipers team thus far, with his efforts keeping them aloft the table standings. Yet, even with all his endeavour, Watambala remains the unsung hero. “To be honest to you, what matters to me is the team winning. Once I play my part to help the team get the needed result, that is enough for me,” Watambala said, as he emphasized that to him, making the headlines is not really the big deal. Since Watambala, a largely an unknown quantity when he broke through to make the Vipers first team in the 2019/2020 season, he has not been a showbiz character. Let alone, Watambala was not the kind of player that the media gravitated to. Unlike Okello, who made his Uganda Premier League (UPL) debut in early 2017 with a hattrick against Onduparaka, hence attracting a lot of rave reviews, Watambala just did the job with efficacy in the midfield. Watambala has energy to run with the ball, wins it back quickly when he loses it, makes interceptions on the retreat, and passes it well, it was just a matter of time that he was noticed as a promising top midfielder. Vipers’ official Haruna Kyobe spelled it out. Although it was two years after Okello’s debut, it was evident that Watambala was made of something. No wonder, shortly after his debut, the then Cranes coach, Johnny McKinstry had him in his Cranes squad that won the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title in December 2019. Since then, it has been a career full of silverware (four league titles) for Watambala, including two league and cup doubles. But all that has been highlighted by the consistency of Watambala. He said: “After Okello, who is my best friend left (you know we talk a lot on a daily), coach Ivan Minnaert called me and said that I had to fill Okello’s shoes by pushing the team forward.” Fittingly so, Watambala is Vipers’ top-scorer with nine goals, and is not about to let up. He noted that because of Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, the club’s supremo, there is no room to relax. He always wants to win; a facet that has been instilled into the entire team, which is why they never relent. “We were disappointed not to have made the Caf Champions League group stages. So, if we want to get there next season, we have to win the league. There are no two ways about that,” Watambala said. Yet, regarding his self-drive, Watambala was motivated by his bigger brothers to play football. But more importantly, he harbours dreams of playing professional football outside the country, which is why he still gives it his all. Watambala has reached his prime, which is indeed the period for take-off. Watambala’s form from last season has continued well into this season, although he pointed out the need to improve on his individual statistics. Last season, he scored only one league goal, but had five assists. While his scoring has gone up by an extra eight goals this time, his assists have dropped by three. Yet, drawing back to what his former coach, Fred Muhumuza said, Watambala’s performances cannot just be judged on assists. Muhumuza said: “No doubt Watambala is a top midfielder. He helped our team tick a lot of boxes last season, something he also did for The Cranes. But oftentimes, analysts only focus on who scored and who assisted. But we forget the person who carried the ball for yards, beat one, two, three opponents, before freeing up his team- mates, who get into a position to assist or score.” That is Watambala, the midfield dynamo, who makes the second last pass. Perhaps, that is the reason he has for years received little recognition for his contribution. Having played in three Africa Nations Championship (Chan) tournaments, his performance was probably never more pronounced than in the last one. Coming off the bench in the first game, a 0-3 loss to Algeria, Watambala became a mainstay because of the improvements he brought to the team until Senegal eliminated them in the quarter-finals. For many, it was surprising that Watambala never made The Cranes team to the 2025 Afcon, following his great form. But that is probably because it will take some time before he shrugs off the tag of unsung hero! nsimbe.jv@gmail.comThe post Watambala, the unsung hero at Vipers SC appeared first on The Observer.