KCC want the Uganda Cup,but SC Villa need it more

What you need to know:

Soccer. SC Villa have won only one title - the Uganda Cup in 2009 - in the last 11 years. That is a poor return for the most successful side in Ugandan soccer history. KCC in contrast have won four since 2004.

Kampala. The constituency of Ruhaama must count itself privileged to be hosting this year’s Uganda Cup final.
Featuring two of the most successful sides in the history of the Ugandan Cup, the locals can take delight in playing as the hosts for today’s showdown between SC Villa and rivals KCC.

It is no secret both SC Villa and KCC are a pale shadow of what they were in the 80s’ so much that the anticipated fireworks at Kyamate Sports Ground is owed to the illustrious heritage of the teams and not the quality, or lack thereof, of players expected to line up for either side.
Regardless, the final comes as a trophy both sides will be desperate to lift.
The loser will count a trophyless season, something which will obviously leave a feeling of hollowness after a grueling season for sides that pride themselves in the moniker of ‘giants’. KCC are by all accounts cooking a renaissance at Lugogo.

The deposed league champions signed a lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with Star Times midway through the season and have overhauled their management structure in an effort to return the side to its glory days.
There is enhanced interest from the Kampala Capital City Authory Executive Director Jennifer Musisi on the day-to-day developments of the club with player welfare expected to improve.
Of the league’s institutional sides, KCC are the best run.

Word on the grapevine is that coach Abdallah ‘Tabliq’ Mubiru is handling his last game as coach because his replacement and assistant has already been identified.
It is all speculation, but not unfounded. Still, it is apparent that they are getting their house in order ahead of the new season.
Denied a League and Cup double last year via the lottery of spot kicks – they lost to URA in the Mbale-staged final, success in the Uganda Cup this year would energize their club’s enthusiasm to return to the zenith of Ugandan football.
They haven’t lifted the Cup in 11 years, an oddity for a team boasting eight Uganda Cup titles.

Monument that needs dusting
Ironically SC Villa last won the League title 11 years ago. And like KCC they are locked on eight Uganda Cup titles.
The leanest spell in SC Villa history continues – only one trophy to show since 2004 – and the Cup would be a welcome relief for the success-starved titans of yester years.
“SC Villa,” says club president Eng Ben Misagga “is a monument that needs to be dusted.”

He couldn’t have defined it better. Unlike KCC who have enjoyed league glory in recent years including back-to-back Championships in 2013 and 2014, Villa are wandering back to the higher echelons of the game.
They finished runners up in the league to Vipers while winning the crown of the season’s no.1 turnstiles.
The club have done an admirable job of returning its sea of fans back to the stadia, a move that will be extended countrywide next season according to Misagga.
Off-pitch SC Villa have been a class act. However, the best catalyst for the off-pitch endeavours of the club’s management is silverware.

In the game of football, titles can spur success. Titles, particularly for the big sides in the country, can instigate a winning culture.
We saw it happen at Express, KCC and Villa in the era when the game was dominated by VEK.
That era for now is a distant memory seeing how organized and powerful Vipers are today but for Villa to reward its fans for their unrivaled show of support in the 2014-15 campaign, a trophy is of essence.
The football exhibited by the Jogoos this season has been short of what the club’s faithful demand, but they have stood by the team in the pursuit of glory.

With three coaches in one season, the club is unquestionably yet to find its feet. A new coach is expected next season, one who will probably come with his own new set of methods that will extend the team’s transition.
In contrast to SC Villa, KCC are still yet to forge the formula to attracting their fans back in droves. Their numbers in the terraces have been as modest as their football. The ekiri e Lugogo hype hasn’t quite spread like a bushfire.

For all intents, the Uganda Cup final will leave the loser sore.
Yet Villa fans in the event of a defeat in Ntungamo today would perhaps feel worse having invested physically and emotionally in the season.

WINNERS SINCE 1971

1971: Coffee
1972: Not held
1973: Not held
1974: Not held
1975: Not held
1976: Gangama
1977: Simba
1978: Nsambya
1979: KCC
1980: KCC
1981: Coffee
1982: KCC
1983: SC Villa
1984: KCC
1985: Express
1986: SC Villa
1987: KCC
1988: SC Villa
1989: SC Villa
1990: KCC
1991: Express
1992: Express
1993: KCC
1994: Express
1995: Express
1996: UEB
1997: Express
1998: SC Villa
1999: Mbale Heroes
2000: SC Villa
2001: Express
2002: SC Villa
2003: Express
2004: KCC
2005: URA
2006: Express
2007: Express
2008: Victors
2009: SC Villa
2010: Victors
2011: Simba
2012: URA
2013: SCVU
2014: URA