ETHIOPIA – Former Vipers SC goalkeeper Ismail Watenga is understood to be on the verge of joining Ethiopian topflight side, Ethiopia Bunna.
Watenga whose contract with Vipers ended at the back-end of last season is still searching for a new club and has been heavily linked with 16 time record Uganda Premier league winners SC Villa in the last few weeks.
Reports from Ethiopia indicate that the former Vipers goalkeeper has agreed terms with Ethiopia Bunna and subsequently earned his entry visa to the horn of Africa nation on Friday evening.
The development comes after Bunna’s deal to sign Ugandan goalkeeper Jamal Salim Magoola fell through earlier this week.
If he signs for the Ethiopians, Watenga will become the third Ugandan shot stopper to play in the Ethiopian league after Robert Odongkara and Denis Onyango.
Last season, Watenga guided Vipers to a second league crown but negotiations to renew his seven year stay with the Kitende based side never materialized.
Ethiopia Bunna, also known as Coffee, has been a home to Ugandan midfielders Kirizestom Ntambi and Boban Zirintusa Bogere last season.
The two-time Ethiopian champions finished third on the league table last season behind perennial rivals St. George and the eventual champions Jimma Aba Jifar.
Yasser Mugerwa, Diego Hamis Kiiza (both at Fesil Kenema) and Robert Odongkara (St George) are the Ugandans currently playing in the Ethiopian top flight.
