Villa thrive amid woes
SC VILLA’S XI AGAINST WATANI
Nicolas Sebwato (G.K), Misi Katende , Isaac Muleme, Jonathan Mugabi, Henry Katongole, Paul Mbowa, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Taddeo Lwanga, Umaru Kasumba, Mike Sserumaga, Robert Achema.
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Soccer. Players reveal they were not paid before facing Sudanese side Watani in the Caf Confederations Cup
KAMPALA.
They say adversity reveals character. Some individuals recover quickly and see the situation as an opportunity. Still others will see themselves as instant victims of the system leading them to quit or give up.
Faced with a situation where the club failed to provide them with allowances prior to departure to Sudan as earlier promised, SC Villa players opted for the former. They put their woes on side and recorded a famous away 1-0 win over Sudanese side Al Khartoum Watani in the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary rounds.
“It is a sad situation but as players we’ll do our role. Hopefully we can impress a few suitors,” one of the players, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, had stated at the team’s send-off last Thursday.
Club president Ben Misagga had acknowledged at the ceremony that travelling for the game would have been difficult if not for a fund-raising drive that attracted contributions former SC Villa treasurer Omar Mandela and ex-president Franco Mugabe. Grumbling, the players boarded the plane and returned as some kind of heroes before their fans yesterday.
Holding midfielder Taddeo Lwanga got the all-important strike after 28 minutes off Mike Sserumaga’s corner in what was the club’s first appearance on the continent after an 11-year lull. The goal was also the first for the player since he joined from rivals Express in the close season.
Only three players on the Villa starting line-up had experience in continental football and there were fears the Sudanese, who have featured in the competition consistently for the past six years, would feast on them in the Saturday clash.
Villa instead stunned the home crowd and are now in the driving seat ahead of the return leg due February 27 at Nakivubo Stadium. Players are hoping to have received their payments by that time.
Villa had last won a continental game away from home 2-1 against Angola’s Aviacao in 2003. Despite that away win, under current Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic, the Jogoos were ejected 3-2 on aggregate.
SC Villa XI:
Nicolas Sebwato (G.K), Misi Katende , Isaac Muleme, Jonathan Mugabi, Henry Katongole, Paul Mbowa, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Taddeo Lwanga, Umaru Kasumba, Mike Sserumaga, Robert Achema
