Basena admits it is over, wants project to proceed

Kampala. SC Villa were by last night still uncertain who would be in charge of their next league match as the side weighed options following Moses Basena’s impulsive throwing in of the towel.
The struggling 16-time league winners are next in action on November 30 against Nyamityobora at Namboole.
Basena admitted to Daily Monitor that he indeed told his players after Villa surrendered yet another attempted victory in the 2-2 with Tooro on Wednesday that he was done.
Did he believe it or it was in the heat of the moment? “Maybe both,” he told this newspaper.
“I believed it then,” he added, “Because I owe these players a lot. I encouraged all of them to come and we work on a project, a good project.
“I speak to them and they tell me ‘coach we are doing our best. And I believe them because some of these boys had never played any serious football before.
“Maybe it is my best that is not good enough and we have to find a way. If the way is me paving a way for someone else to come in, then I support that because the project must continue.
“When you play well and you lose, look the games against Kirinya, URA, KCCA, then against Tooro (surrendered leads in three), it is disappointing.”
The more he talked the more you realised Basena, who set up this team almost from scratch after coming in during pre-season, is hurting between a rock and a hard place.
You could feel that mentality, this was it. There is no turning back. He had had a chat with his club chairman William Nkemba and reportedly told him his mind.
Nkemba had not pronounced himself on whether he will persuade Basena to stay on or bring in another coach by press time last evening.
Efforts to speak to Nkemba were futile as he did not pick his call when we contacted him on his known phone number.
The results have hardly helped the dour relationship between Basena and some Villa fans, who have acosted him at different games recently but without harming him.
Perhaps it is best for both parties to part ways amicably because every other passing game is only bringing anguish to both.
But what is Basena’s real deep feeling about, say; if his bosses insisted he stays on?
“I’m thinking long and hard about it,” he said, “I don’t know. We shall do what is best for the club. Let’s see what happens.”
Sources from inside the club, however, suggest that Basena - a close friend and former teammate of Nkemba, has lost some support from the interim executive.
Most seen to have come to a conclusion that it is best for the coach and the club to go separate ways before it is too late.
Villa remain in relegation with only four points and without a win in eight matches, the club’s worst ever start to any campaign. They are actually the only team yet to win a game.
Police coach Abdallah Mubiru, Douglas Bamwenyana and Asaph Mwebaze are some of the names being talked about for the job.