Revita, the ponytailed civil engineer taking Ugandan football by storm

Leader of Men. With a tinge of luck, Revita has risen through the ranks to captain the club he grew up supporting taking over from Julius Ntambi. Photo by John Batanudde

What you need to know:

  • Isaac Mutanga, who has just been shown the exit at Express, engineered an exodus of about six Uganda ‘professionals’ to Congo and among them was Revita.

Kampala. John Revita has earned plenty of plaudits for his performances for Express last season, but the light skinned versatile player believes he also needs to stamp his authority with the Uganda Cranes to be truly considered one of the best in the business.
When you think of defending, many minds tend to think of throwing old-fashioned tackle or a double legged lunge in to stop an opponent, that is not Revita’s style of play, he thrills and gives assurance to the point you may think he is allergic to cards.
 
Quitting beach soccer for league football
 Born to Jonny Dionisio Revita (mixed blood of Philippines and Busoga) and Mary Nadamba (RIP) in 1992 in Rubaga, it took Revita reasonable time to think about playing football professionally. At some stage, he meandered into Beach Soccer albeit successful to the point of captaining the national team – the Sand Cranes – and being voted the league MVP in 2014.
“Since my early education at Omega Nursery, Step By Step Primary, Uganda Martyrs Rubaga and Munyonyo Secondary, I worked had to be an engineer and never played serious football,” Revita told SCORE during the interview.

He scored 17 points from his PEM/A combination at A-Level and undertook a diploma in civil engineer at Nakawa-Mubs Campus before he had a one-year sojourn in Rwanda where he has relatives. On his return, and with nothing to do, he leisurely ventured into Beach Soccer with Galacticals where he excelled first as a forward and later as a defender.
“My friend (Abdul Karim Kibalama) taught me the basics of Beach Soccer game and straight away I started playing. I got the honour of captaining Sand Cranes in Malindi, Kenya as Uganda had a respectable finish,” he reminisces. He also moonlighted with Kyanja FC that featured in the Mulindwa Cup in Kamengo about four years ago. Totally impressed by what he saw - crisp passing and splendid game reading - Vipers President Lawrence Mulindwa, the tourney chief organizer, ordered Revita to start training with his club then under Edward Golola but a few days into the Kitende assignment, the lucrative deal to join DR Congo side Bukavu surfaced.

Missing out on TP Mazembe deal
Isaac Mutanga, who has just been shown the exit at Express, engineered an exodus of about six Uganda ‘professionals’ to Congo and among them was Revita. Among the others were Bosco Semugenyi and Michael Katende who never exceeded a year at Bukavu, but Revita and Mutanga, a physically endowed player with limited technique, somehow did get a second year. Performers against DRC heavyweights TP Mazembe, Motema Pembe and Vita endeared Revita to the club bosses but his handlers couldn’t let him get the chance. Managerial changes at Bukavu coupled with ‘the hard knock life’ in the war ravaged nation forced Revita and Mutanga return home.

Interestingly, Revita played two years at Bukavu as a playmaker and number 10 and never in the back but the lasting impression he created left giants like Mazembe tempted.
Whereas Mutanga was hooked up by Express at the start of last season, Revita returned home to chart another path, possibly in business. Mutanga knew of Revita’s burgeoning talent and he sweet talked then Red Eagles coach Kefa Kisala to give him a chance, and the rest as they say, is history. 
 
Rising from Wankulukuku ashes
 For all his composure, ball timing, technical brilliance and potential, one can hardly believe that Revita was initially not signed up by Express but rather an individual.
“When I realized he was a rare breed and Express had no money to give him, I coerced a certain Sebitosi to buy him at Shs10m promising him that he would yield profits soon. He gave Revita five million which kept him at the club,” Kisala disclosed. When Kiryowa Kiwanuka administration came in, they reportedly failed to buy Revita for the club which explains why his contract has now elapsed at the club. Then again, missing a passport and International Transfer Certificate (ITC) connived to rule Revita out of Express’ first seven matches – something Kisala says hurt the club’s plans a great deal.   He would make his debut in the 2-0 loss to Onduparaka at Wankulukuku but fans were quick to notice the gem they had in the subsequent 27 matches he has played for the Red Eagles with two goals along the way.  With a tinge of luck, Revita has risen through the ranks to captain the club he grew up supporting taking over from Julius Ntambi, Mutanga, Davis Mayanja and Michael Birungi.
 
Made for the big stage
 Already he is the fulcrum around which the Cosafa bound team will rotate and his coach Abdallah Mubiru admits it openly. “Revita relieves the coach, fans and fellow players of pressure. If it were me choosing, he would be playing in the Afcon bound team because of hid maturing and game intelligence,” Mubiru told SCORE.
Revita says he was born to be ‘calm under pressure and that he plays the same way he does in training because he cares less about the surrounding.’

Yet Revita, who grew up idolizing former Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya and Barcelona legend Carles Puyol seems to know he has aspects on his game to work on like strength but has set his target at Cosafa right – getting a lucrative professional stint with awesome display. He is a jolly and calm guy off the field and takes responsibility of looking after his siblings when because his dad is based in Philippines.

Revita at a glance

Born to Jonny Dionisio Revita (lives in Philippines) and Mary Nadamba (RIP) in 1992 in Rubaga, he has three siblings.
Studied at Omega Nursery, Step By Step Primary Mengo, Uganda Martyrs Rubaga,  Munyonyo Secondary and Mubs.
Engaged to his girlfriend but has a kid from previous relationship.
Favourite food; rice, chicken and Irish potatoes.
Clubs supported; Man United and Express.
Hobbies; music, movies, swimming and football.