Heathens resist player revolt, but for how much longer will Soggy survive?

KAMPALA.

David Mutaka is one of the most likeable people in Ugandan rugby and that has nothing to do with how good or bad a winger his was in his heyday.

His ability to pick the right words when emceeing at events or while presenting on television make him someone you may want to lend an ear. Choosing the right words must be both a natural thing for him or something Mutaka has learnt from his time as a Human Resource Manager in the banking sector.

His profession involves delivering as many heartbreaks as commendations, recommendations or maiden contracts.

It is impossible to think that Mutaka has ever used the phrase “You are Fired” made famous by US Presidential Candidate Donald Trump. That was the catchphrase of Trump’s 14-season reality TV brainchild, the Apprentice, one of most watched shows of the last decade in America. Over the past few weeks, Mutaka has been pushed into a corner to act like a Trump, at least in use of language but not the hair. And it is real, not a transplant.

As Kyadondo Rugby Football Club (KYRFC) chairman, Mutaka, like Trump, the chairman of the Trump Organisation, has the final say on many things.
Mutaka’s way
Prime among those is decisions taken at Hima Cement Heathens, the club’s premier side, and arguably the biggest in Uganda.

A player revolt a little over a fortnight ago demanded that Mutaka and his board push coach Robert ‘Soggy’ Seguya over the cliff, head first. According to Mutaka, players told him ‘they don’t feel respected’ by Seguya, appointed last year to replace Brian Tabaruka.

The accused has been unapologetic about his style telling a radio sports talk show last week that “I did not attend that meeting because I had more important things to do”.

“I was preparing the Hana Mixed School team, who have given us more than 80% of our players, for the East Africa Games,” Seguya said, defiantly. “They can go ahead and decide. It’s not my call.”
All coaches have their flaws. Sadly, for Heathens, most of the players favoured, anyone would, Mr. Nice Guy Tabaruka.

If Mutaka had wholesomely bowed to the players’ demands, he would set a very dangerous precedent with ramifications far beyond Heathens.
How do players get to choose who coaches them? In the aftermath of the players’ meeting, Mutaka met with his board and resolved not to make the call. Smart.

However, this does not mean that the crisis was averted. Despite all their success, most of which Soggy has been part, Heathens must be getting desperate, for no reason.

Losing the league title to Kobs almost means that winning the Uganda Cup later this year is a must. Is Soggy the man to push the players towards that goal and thereafter? In an interview in June, Soggy, widely regarded as the greatest player to kick and throw the oval-shaped ball in Uganda, gave a scathing opinion of Ugandan players.

Players’ affection
“Our players are sissies and it starts with their clubs,” Soggy, also national team assistant coach, told this newspaper.

“This Manchester (United under Louis van Gaal or Jose Mourinho if you like) has better, expensive players than those of (Sir Alex) Ferguson. Fergie’s loved their coach, I pray these guys love me and play for me,” he said then.

That affection he desires remains distant and could cost him a job he cherishes, one he performed so well in helping so many young players develop at Toyota Buffaloes.

Those were much younger players. Now, he has to earn the same respect with older ones who resist his overtures. For a man who has overcome leg and shoulder injuries plus a broken hand to play this game, this must be an oat meal. How much Heathens can manage this friction is anyone’s guess.

The only certainty is that whichever side the pendulum swings, Mutaka needs to watch Trump’s Apprentice first, not any of his emceeing gigs.

ROBERT SEGUYA, THE PLAYER
l Selected for Africa Leopards twice in 2007 and 2008 being made captain in 2007.
l Won the Elgon Cup in 2006.
l African Champion in 2002 and 2007.
l Won the league with Heathens in 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
l Won the Uganda Cup with Heathens 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002 & 2001.
l Played for Uganda in 7s at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2010.
l Played for Uganda in the IRB Sevens circuit in 2001, 2003 and 2004.