Prime
Competition is why I miss 80s soccer
The triumphant 1989 Cranes team: (L-R) Sadiq Wassa, Steven Bogere, Ronald Vvubuya, Isaac Nkaada, Richard Mugalu, William Nkemba, Sam Kabugo, Tom Musoke and Sula Kato. Down: Hasule, Robert Aloro, George Nsimbe, Majid Nsimbe (RIP), Sam Ssimbwa, Twaha Kivumbi & Disan Kiggundu (RIP). FILE PHOTO
In December 1989, Uganda Cranes beat Malawi Flames in a penalty shoot-out to end a twelve year wait for the Council for East and Central Africa (Cecafa) Challenge Cup.
Victory in the Nairobi final prompted wild celebrations in Kampala and all corners of the country. A national holiday was promptly declared as the players were feted by the sports shy political top brass.
How times have changed. Uganda’s dominance of the 12-team regional competition has led fans to treat Cecafa Challenge Cup victories with disdain. It is as though the Cranes have a natural right to win the trophy.
Nota Bene Uganda has won 13 trophies whereas closest challengers Kenya have six.
My own love affair with the beautiful game intensified during the 1977-89 barren period. Why the national team failed to reflect the vibrant local game has always been a mystery. One of the most plausible explanations could be that the explosion of talent made it difficult for national team selectors to choose the right team. It could also have been that regional rivals had equally good players. I loved this competition.
Contenders
Each position had three or four contenders. In goal, Paul Ssali was the pre-eminent choice given his 1978 Africa Cup of Nation exploits but he was always pushed hard for his position by KCC teammate John Tebusweke and SC Villa’s Jamil Kasirye. By 1987, KCC’s penalty saving hero Sadiq Wassa had seized the number one jersey. He was the man in goal when Uganda beat Malawi to deliver what had become a Holy Grail.
In the early 80s, John Ross Latigo was the undisputed best right back, with Villa’s John Jumba offering timid competition. Following the retirement of Jimmy Kirunda, Latigo moved into central defence where he played along with Villa’s energetic Paul Hasule. I recall V8 being the only graduate on the 1982 Cranes team that lost the final to a Mohammed Abbas-inspired Kenya Harambee Stars.
By 1989, left back was a hotbed of competition with Coffee FC’s slow but tough Richard Mugalu having the edge over KCC skipper Charles Baker Matsiko and Villa’s no nonsense hard tackler Geoffrey Higenyi. The fight for places was even more intense for midfield and forward positions.
Genius
Holding midfield, what we referred to as Number Six, had Nile Omuliro’s Matthew Lucha – a player who always seemed to have time – competing with KCC’s Fred Mugisha, Express’ slow motion genius Moses Ndawula and Coffee’s stylist John Mapeera, who had been recruited from Mukono club, Lufula FC - a team of butchers! By 1989, George ‘Best’ Nsimbe had made the position his own.
Coffee FC’s Obadiah Ssemakula, the self-acclaimed Musanvu w’eGgwanga (the nation’s Number Seven), a moniker he gave himself.
But he had formidable rivals in KCC’s Peter Mazinga and Villa’s Ronnie Vvubya, with the later the better goal scorer. KCC’s loquacious Sam Ssimbwa was the man manning the right flank in 1989.
Tobacco’s free dribbling Stephen Bogere had pre-eminence in creative midfield ahead of Express’ Jimmy Muguwa and Coffee’s Rogers Semere though by 1989 Jackson Mayanja had muscled his way into the picture.
Before the emergence of Magid Musisi around 1986, Express FC’s Issa Ssekatawa was the nation’s pre-eminent centre forward and first super star. ‘Golden Boy’ Ssekatawa had no problem keeping ‘Black Bomber’ Davis Kamoga out of the team. I remember Ssekatawa advertising Bata company’s casual shoes which were referred to as Ssekatawas. The country’s greatest player, Phillip Omondi, was Cranes undisputed number 10, with Villa’s Shabandy Mwinda, KCC’s Sam Mugambe and Express’ Ibrahim ‘Maradona’ Buwembo all taking turns to be his understudy.
Not one, not two, not three but four vastly talented players sought to make the left flank their own. Express’ Fred ‘Gaso’ Mukasa , KCC’s Godfrey ‘Super Star’ Kateregga, Coffee’s Alex Olum and SC Villa’s Sunday Mokili all wanted the number 11 jersey. Kateregga was the most skilled, Mukasa the fastest, Olum the hardest working and Mokili possessed the fiercest shot.
It was an array of talent that gave coaches selection headaches and us fans so much to fret about. How current Cranes coach Micho would use such talent. How I loved eighties football!
[email protected]
