Jogoo Young, Fof products come of age in new century
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: Standing L-R: Emmanuel Okwi, Mike Azira, Tony Ndolo, Joseph Owino, Simeon Masaba, Yusuf Juuko, Steven Bengo Squatting L-R: Yasin Mugabi, Oscar Kadenge, Godfrey Walusimbi and Oscar Agaba. PHOTOS BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
SOCCER. The core members of this team honed their trade at either Jogoo Young (Villa’s defunct famed feeder club), or Eddie Butindo’s Friends of Football. Hardly two years onto the youth scene, the majority made their league debuts as SC Villa finished third in 2007.
Emmanuel Okwi: One of the most technically gifted forwards in recent years. Okwi, in his No.7 jersey, became a menace to defenders and scored a number of crucial goals for the side. Despite his immense potential and promise, life after Villa became tricky for him.
Tanzania’s Simba became his first club outside Uganda but he soon joined Tunisian giants Étoile du Sahel, then returned briefly to Villa Park, citing breach of contract by the Tunisians. He would go back to Tanzania to join Yanga, and as recent as last season, he rejoined Simba.
In July, he joined Danish club SønderjyskE, where he is still based. His Cranes career kicked off on a high in 2009 and he became the second top scorer at the 2010 Cecafa Cup on four goals. He bettered it in 2011 with five goals, sharing the topscorer’s gong with Rwanda’s Meddie Kagere and Olivier Karekezi. That was before injuries kicked in and he has since featured in national colors frugally.
Mike Azira: A true definition of talent. Comfortable on the ball both in defence and midfield, Azira left for US in 2010. He joined Mississippi Brilla of the USL Premier League and later joined Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League. He currently plays for Seattle Sounders in the Major Soccer League.
Tony Ndolo: The Kenyan defender was the captain of this talented side. A tenacious player with a stinging tackle and good game reading skills, Ndolo was a perfect leader. It’s no wonder rumour had it that at one time Fufa authorities were considering giving him a Ugandan passport at that time. He also played for KCC before crossing back to Kenya, where he plays for Sofapaka.
Joseph Owino: He was spotted by a Masaka LC official while featuring for Nyamitanga SS against Ntare at Kakyeka Stadium in 2004. He would join them in 2005 and impressed in their defence.
Villa signed him and he stood tall in their defense before joining URA in 2009. He made his Cranes debut in the 2008 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup but sustained a knee injury that has troubled him for most of his career.
He would later join Tanzania’s Yanga and Simba but the injury kept bothering him until he joined Kenya’s Sofapaka at the start of this season.
Simeon Masaba: A veteran of the game, Masaba is the true embodiment of passion, commitment and hard work.
He started his career at Iganga TC under veteran player scout/coach Edris Nyombi in the late 1990s. He impressed and the big Kampala clubs came calling. He ended up at Police, where Villa got him in 2004. At Villa Park, he was a loyal servant until the turbulences that forced many players out of Villa Park in 2010. He played for Uganda Cranes for more than a decade.
Yusuf Juuko: An attack minded right back with a knack for scoring crucial goals, he went on to play for Express and is currently at SC Victoria University.
Steven Bengo: He boasted ball-dribbling skills and power, he could break down the best of defences. Good at passing with a great technique in dead balls, Bengo had it all. He hit the national scene in high gear, bagging the MVP gong during the 2008 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Kampala. Joining Tanzania’s Yanga seemed to be his undoing. He reportedly became ‘big headed’ and the club off-loaded him to URA. He also didn’t last long before joining KCC from where he rejoined Villa at the start of last season, leading them to the Uganda Cup. He was dropped at the end of the season and is now at Soana.
Yasin Mugabi: A promising goalkeeper, who never lived up to his billing. He played for the national U-23 side but somehow failed to break into the Uganda Cranes. Mugabi quit Villa for Proline in 2009, before joining URA in 2012. He is currently playing for KCCA.
Oscar Kadenge: A son to the legendary Kenyan striker Joe Kadenge, he scored a sackful of goals before returning to Kenya. He is with AFC Leopards now.
Godfrey Walusimbi: The most successful of them all in national colors. He has played for the Cranes since 2009. He left Villa and joined Vipers before heading to Congo’s Don Bosco. He is currently at Kenya’s Gor Mahia.
Oscar Agaba: One of, if not, the best ball holding midfielders in Uganda. Soft-spoken on and off the pitch, Agaba’s talent has been overlooked by national team selectors for long. Some lay the blame on his laidback character. His loyalty at Villa ended in 2009 when he joined URA. He is the assistant captain.
