SC Villa doubles down on Serbian trust with Zeljko appointment

SC Villa president Omar Mandela has reaffirmed his trust in Serbian football tacticians with the appointment of Kovacevic Zeljko as the club’s new head coach.

Zeljko’s arrival comes just two weeks after the club faced public embarrassment when fellow Serbian coach Nemanja Milincic declined the role merely three days after his official unveiling.

Milincic’s abrupt withdrawal, despite what appeared to be a formal agreement, sparked ridicule from rival fans and left the club in a brief period of uncertainty.

Undeterred, Villa has doubled down on its belief in Serbian coaching pedigree. Notably, Milutin "Micho" Sredojevic, a former Villa head coach and one of Mandela’s most trusted football advisors, has played a key role in recommending Serbian appointments over the years.

Zeljko becomes the fifth Serbian to take charge of the club, joining a list that includes Micho, Dusan Stojanovic, Milincic, and Zinojnov Srdjan.

In a statement signed by club CEO William Nkemba, Villa described Zeljko as a seasoned coach with modern football knowledge and tactical innovation.

“Zeljko joins Villa with a wealth of experience and brings with him unique qualities the club has long sought. His understanding of the game presents an exciting future for Villa, and we are confident that, in due course, he will restore the club’s fortunes and elevate it to continental success,” the statement read.

The club also reassured fans of Mandela’s full backing for the new coach:

“The club undertakes to fully support him and ensure that he meets his targets and the club’s aspirations within a short period of time.”

Meanwhile, Villa has already begun preseason training under academy coach Peter Onen, featuring players not currently involved with the Uganda Cranes’ African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad. Zeljko is expected to take over training later this week.

Despite being Uganda’s most decorated football club with a record 17 league titles, Villa endured a challenging campaign last season under Morley Byekwaso, finishing sixth and surrendering the title to rivals Vipers SC.