SC Villa’s days of dominance

THE SQUAD L-R: John Mandwara, Hakim Magumba, Joseph Mutyaba, Deo Sserwadda, Andrew ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa, Aggrey Bigala, James Odoch, Geoffrey Bukohore, Edgar Watson, Charles Kayemba (RIP), Ramathan Erengesa. COURTESY Photo

What you need to know:

SOCCER. SC Villa are not 16-time record league champions by mistake. There was a time in the 80s and 90s when they were simply unbeatable; take the 1999 star-studded side that reached the Cecafa Club Championship final.

Kampala.

This is the SC Villa team that walloped Zanzibar’s KMKM 5-0 at the Cecafa Club Championship in January 1999. Villa had last won the trophy in 1985 and started off as hungry lions. Unfortunately, the Jogoos lost to Tanzania’s Young Africans (Yanga) in a penalty shootout in the final.

John Mandwara: A journeyman who also played for KCC, Express and Umeme among others. After retiring, he started a tailoring shop near Arua Park. Reports indicate that he has since relocated his business to South Sudan, where he is now based.

Hakim Magumba: The pint-sized midfielder is simply one of the most technically-gifted players Uganda has ever produced.
An unknown player to many until his two-goal heroics against Ethiopia’s Electricity FC in the opening match of this tournament, Magumba went on to pull the strings in midfield for Villa and the Cranes for long.
After a semi-professional stint in Rwanda and comebacks from retirement, he announced his retirement at the end of last season after leading the Jogoos to the Uganda Cup. The club honoured him with a testimonial last month.

Joseph Mutyaba: A hardworking midfielder/winger with the technical ability to single-handedly win games.
He joined Villa from bitter rivals Express and went on to win many trophies. He represented Uganda at all youth levels. He also played for URA and a host of clubs in Oman and Vietnam.
His trophy haul includes five league titles and six Uganda Cup crowns. Last season, he was coaching Bul but is now the head coach at Lweza.

Deo Sserwadda: The team’s left back was not technically astute but his tenacity always bailed him out. As a coach, he is credited for having led URA to the Ugandan top division. Currently he is coaching Police FC’s junior side and Kyambogo University.

Andrew ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa: Arguably one of the best strikers ever in Uganda, if not the best. His record of 45 league goals set in 1999 is still unchallenged.
Mukasa played for all national youth teams plus the Uganda Cranes. However, mental illness has swept him off the soccer scene. He spends more of his time at Butabika Mental Hospital than anywhere else.

Aggrey Bigala: So talented was Bigala that Villa signed him during his early days as a Makerere University student. His passing and versatility made him a special player. He went to the US for studies at the start of the millennium. He succeeded at that, graduating with a PhD and now works as a banker in the USA.

James Odoch: A midfielder whose technical awareness left markers chasing shadows during his time at Villa, Express, Rwanda’s APR and the various national teams he played for. He had a thunderous shot off both feet plus an eye for a killer pass. Odoch is currently into coaching, managing Jinja Municipal Council Hippos. He is also the chairman at Kisugu United.

Geoffrey Bukohore: A composed defender, Bukohore’s trip to the US at the start of the millennium robbed the nation of one of its most promising players. He is currently living a quiet life as a businessman both in Kampala and Mbarara, his home area.

Edgar Watson: An elegant passer of the ball from the midfield for Miracle FC, SC Villa and the Cranes, Watson was a joy to watch. He captained both Villa and the Cranes. Currently, he’s the Fufa CEO and director, Edgar’s Youth Project (EYP).

Charles Kayemba (RIP): A strong striker who tore defenses with sheer power, Kayemba passed on in the early 2000s.

Ramathan Erengesa: He was a Burundian international. In this talented Villa team, it is most believed he was the weakest link due to his shameful timing of the ball and lack of penalty-saving skills. After leaving Uganda, he played for a few clubs in Rwanda but little is known about him today.

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