Time is nigh for clubs to define who they are

Ceasar Olega and his Onduparaka teammates won over the neutrals during the Uganda Cup final at Nakivubo last Saturday. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

Football clubs across the globe have identities steeped deep in the history. These identities have passed the test of time to the extent that the life and soul of their present-day existence is owed to the tenets upon which the clubs were built.
Egyptian side Al Ahly, one of the greatest clubs in the history of African football, was founded as a gathering place for Cairo students in the struggle against colonization. The word ‘Ahly’ means national and actually for a long time the club was called ‘National’.

Their rivals Zamalek, founded in 1911 four years after Ahly, were started as a club for all people. Zamalek were not biased towards a social, economic, ethnic or political status of fans. They were a club for everyone.
This divide between Ahly and Zamalek lives on and will continue till the end of time. It was what sets the two teams apart and fuels the rivalry of arguably Africa’s biggest and oldest derby.
Last Saturday, the 20,000 fans at Nakivubo bore witness to a club that has already identified who they are.
Downtown Kampala had hours earlier been drowned in a sea of green and full force of the newly promoted club’s might was displayed in the open stands, closed stands and pavilion where the Arua-based Onduparaka won over neutrals with their passion for the club.

It was visual poetry. That Vipers SC carried the day and the Cup was secondary; the day’s winners were Onduparaka.
Fans of the game must pray and hope that Onduparaka is here for the long haul. Ugandan football has been crying out loud for a savior, and that messiah could well come in the form of the Uganda Cup finalists.
Onduparaka are not a ragtag group of players who somehow beat the odds to secure promotion, which is normally the case for many newly promoted teams.

On the contrary Onduparaka are a spirit of Arua – a way of life from the West Nile town who who are intent on establishing themselves as a section of the country that can play football.
For years we have cherished the idea of upcountry football being championed. Onduparaka’s advent is early Christmas.
What Onduparaka possesses is a marketer’s dream – numbers. And their numbers are as a result of the club succeeding in defining themselves, who they are and what they want to be.
Ugandan club football has lived with the illusion of KCCA, SC Villa and Express being giant clubs to this very day.
Once upon a time, they were. I’m not sure the three deserve to be labeled giants any longer. But that discussion is for another day. The VEK trio has spent years in pursuit of trophies but winning alone neither grows your brand nor shapes your identity.

If the grapevine is to be believed, Express – now riding on a wave of energy generated by new chairperson Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi – will soon be endorsed as the club supported by Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi. The Red Eagles want to be known as the royal club, which should be somewhat straightforward given that they play at Muteesa II stadium in Wankulukuku.
If that rumour holds water, the Red Eagles will have scored on many fronts. As a club in Buganda, they would be almost certainly win over a loyal following of fans who hold their kingdom dear.
If the new chairperson has chosen to pursue royal endorsement for the club, it would be an astute move to go along with the so many ventures she is exploring to make them the country’s premier club.

The non-institutional clubs in particular are the ones in most need of establishing their values and identity.
KCCA, Police and URA for example can, by virtue of institutionalized support, continue operating the way they do because funding is scarcely a problem.
Thankfully for the KCCA management, they are intent on the club embracing a personality that goes well and beyond Jennifer Musisi’s support.
Onduparaka made the game yearn for a strong club in Mbale. In fact Onduparaka evoked the memories of Mbale Heroes and Iganga Town Council FC.
Onduparaka’s promotion to the Uganda Premier League could not have come at a better time. The rest of the league must embrace the gauntlet thrown down by the green army from West Nile.

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History, the adage goes, is the best teacher. Uganda Cranes have fallen short at the 11th hour of Afcon qualification so many times that we have perhaps graduated with a Masters in Faliure.
Going into the decisive Comoros match in September, the Cranes technical team would do well to study the videos of Uganda’s most recent nearly stories.
All the scenarios when Uganda drew 0-0 with Kenya in 2011 and lost a marathon shoot-out to Zambia in 2012 must be broken down and addressed.
It would also be complacent of the federation to plan for the Comoros game proper without acknowledging and averting the pre-match madness that tends to come with hyped Uganda Cranes games.
Qualification will be achieved when the regrettable lessons of 2011 and 2012 are learnt.

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