Exclusive: “Treated As A Stranger,” Uganda Cranes Star Okello On Why He Left Boyhood Side KCCA FC For Arch-Rivals Vipers SC

Former Ugandan Player of the Year Allan Okello has expressed discontent at the manner with which his boyhood club KCCA FC treated him, inducing his decision to join eternal nemesis Vipers SC, in what is described as one of the most controversial transfers locally.

The Uganda National team playmaker had been braced to rejoin KCCA before the start of the 2023/2024 Uganda Premier League season, following his release by Algerian top tier outfit Paradou AC. However, on transfer deadline day, the local football sphere was treated to a shocking switch to Vipers.

It's worth noting that Okello had already featured for KCCA on two separate spells, with the initial one witnessing his rise from the club's academy and youth setups between 2017 to 2020. That was before signing for Paradou in Algeria on a four-year contract. The second stint at KCCA had him play there on a season-long loan from Paradou in the 2022/2023 campaign.

THE GENESIS OF THE FALLOUT AT PARADOU AND LATER KCCA

Okello made a switch from KCCA to Paradou as one of the hottest prospects in Ugandan football in 2020 at a reported $200,000, but it quite didn't match the anticipated expectations, as he struggled with limited game time. There, he played 31 games in two seasons, starting in less than 50% of the tally.

In a bid to have him rediscover his mojo, Paradou sent him back to KCCA on loan, playing 26 games with six goals and eight assists in the Uganda Premier League. At the end of that campaign, he was expected to return to Algeria, but it was never the case.

“From KCCA to Algeria (in 2020), it wasn't that hard, as they (Paradou) had got interested when I played against them in the CAF Champions League, so they held discussions and the deal happened. At that point, all was moving to plan,” Okello began in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com.

“Then, I returned to Uganda at KCCA on loan from Algeria, and played for a season. I was meant to return to Algeria but then I had a knee injury and told Paradou that I needed to stay here for an extended period. At this point, we got issues, and that's how we figured it all out to reach a termination.”

TREATED AS AN OUTCAST AT A PLACE HE CALLED HOME

In what was meant to be his third-coming at KCCA, the 24-year-old was in shock as the arms at KCCA weren't as open as he had anticipated. He describes his treatment during the negotiations for a possible return, as strange-like.

“At the time, I was a bit relaxed yet also eagerly waited for KCCA because it was my home. I waited and gave them all the time, and at long last, they started discussions for a possible deal with my agent and representatives,” Okello says.

“But it wasn't smooth, and it looked like they didn't want me to play for them again, and it affected me a bit. It was quite hard for me to feel like that, because it's a place that I always referred to as my home. But they instead made me feel like a stranger, and I didn't get their attention, it was a shock.”

RESCUED BY A RIVAL - THE IRONY 

As KCCA played hide and seek or rather, hard-to-get, Okello found solace at their arch-nemesis Vipers SC. The six-time Uganda Premier League champions offered the playmaker a massive take-it-or-leave-it deal, offering to cater for his surgery as well.

“So, I got a call and an opportunity from Vipers' president Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, and we met one on one, and like they say, it hard to meet him and refuse his deal. Every footballer in Uganda knows, if you meet him, the deal is done. So, it wasn't hard for me in the talks with him, we made it happen. I've never looked back,” the Uganda Cranes midfielder recalls.

“Life at Vipers is always good when you're performing well. It's a very demanding place, as we only settle for the best. At the moment, we're doing fine, so the atmosphere is joyous, including the president. It's of course different when the results aren't great. This time round, everyone is focused on securing the title.”

Okello is currently the joint topscorer in the Uganda Premier League with eight goals in 12 matches. His impressive return has seen Vipers occupy second on the table with 25 points, one adrift of leaders NEC Football Club. Lifting the championship will make it his second, having previously clinched it at KCCA FC in the 2018/2019 season under Mike Mutebi.