Masaba, Iguma and Wadada: Right backs that always got the job done

They all played around the same time. Simeon Masaba, Denis Iguma and Nicholas Wadada all commanded the national team Cranes’ right back position. 

What you need to know:

  • Simeon Masaba, Denis Iguma and Nicholas Wadada all commanded the national team Cranes’ right back position. They proved to be very comfortable in possession but that did not make it any easier for opposing forwards to get past them.

Tough Nuts. They all played around the same time. Simeon Masaba, Denis Iguma and Nicholas Wadada all commanded the national team Cranes’ right back position. They proved to be very comfortable in possession but that did not make it any easier for opposing forwards to get past them. Whereas Masaba and Wadada were attack-minded with the kind of overlaps that got fans excited, Iguma, on the other hand, was defence-minded though he could also play in midfield and in the central defence.

DENIS IGUMA

Super Game Reader. Iguma acrobatically controls the ball as Cranes made a return to the Africa Cup of Nations showpiece after an almost four-decade absence in Gabon. PHOTO | AFP

Before switching to right back, Iguma was a central defender - a position in which he nurtured his abilities on the ball. Iguma went to a sporting school, Old Kampala SSS around the same time as Augustine Nsumba , Dan Sserunkuuma and Martin Bunjo, who now plays with Proline. 

As you must have realized that some footballing students of Old Kampala then had a connection with Friends Of Football (FOF) team which consisted of youthful players and under the guidance of veteran coach Eddie Butindo, a football purist in his own right. The FOF team used to train  at the school grounds and this gave the youthful footballing students an opportunity to join Butindo’s team. Iguma is therefore a typical FOF product. 

Iguma later joined Jogoo Young, then the nursery team of SC Villa whose coach at the time was Ibrahim Kirya. He graduated to the senior team ahead of the 2008-09 season. He later became captain and was voted the club’s best player of the 2011 season.

His quick growth fed a no holds barred attitude that made Iguma the sort of player some coaches felt uncomfortable to work with. For example, In 2012 Iguma had a burst up with then SC Villa coach Mike Mutebi saying he felt uncomfortable with his training tactics.

Coach Mutebi, also known not to take insubordination lying down, shot back without mentioning names saying; “there is a young boss trying to impose himself on old employees. How can you expect me to teach players the modern game when they are from the village?” 

Earlier in December 2011, Fufa banned him for a month after he mysteriously disappeared from the Cranes camp as the team was about to depart for the  LG tournament in Morocco. He claimed to have had a sick kid, saying he was therefore not in the right mind to travel with the team. On the day the Cranes team departed, Iguma  however was seen featuring for SC Villa against Victors FC.

In January 2012, SC Villa decided to sell Iguma to Victoria University, making him the most expensive player within the domestic league. Victoria University parted with a cool $100,000 (about Shs365m)beating the earlier record of $80,000 (about Shs240m) which had been set when Victors sold Simon Sserunkuma to SC Villa four seasons before. In 2014, Iguma left Victoria university for Al Ahed SC of Lebanon and next to Bekaa FC in the same country.

Iguma was first summoned to the Cranes team in May 2010 for an Afcon qualifier against Kenya. Coach Bobby Williamson then said he didn’t expect him to play but just to be around as a cover in case Isaac Isinde, Edward Ssali and Jimmy Mukubya’s ended up not being fit enough. 

“He is still young and has plenty of time to improve.” 
In 2013, his time came after Bobby Williamson dropped Simeon Masaba for a World Cup qualifier against Liberia saying’; “Iguma has got a good stamina, good enthusiasm, he deserves his chance now.”  

One of his best matches for the Cranes came in 2013 when he scored the solitary goal away in Tanzania during a Chan  qualifier. Having played as a right back in the previous three Cranes matches, new coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic handed Iguma a midfield role in Tanzania telling him; “look, I know you can play in midfield, just go and enjoy your game.”  

Little known about Iguma was that in November 2013, after being sidelined for over a month with a knee injury,  he was flown to Europe and checked by one of the doctors on tennis star Novak Djokovic’s medical team. This was facilitated by Victoria University chairman Simo Dubajic after an appeal made by Micho. 

Iguma boasts of  61 Cranes caps and recently joined KCCA FC to reunite with his former coach at SC Villa, Mutebi.
 
IGUMA FACTFILE (ACHIEVEMENTS)

  • Played in the great side of Old Kampala Secondary School
  • Played for FOF, Jogoo Young, SC Villa, Victoria University, Al Ahed and Bekaa of Lebanon and currently at KCCA FC.
  • l Won the Uganda Cup with SC Villa in 2008.
  • Won the Uganda Cup with Victoria University in 2012-13 season.
  • Played for the U-23 Uganda  Kobs.
  • Already has 61 Cranes caps.
  • In 2013 during a Chan qualifier, he was switched to the midfield and scored the winner away against Tanzania.
  • Former Cranes coach Bobby Williamson once praised him saying he had great stamina.
  • In 2012, SC Villa sold him to Victoria University for a domestic league record of $ 10,000 (Shs36m).
  • Because of his importance he was in 2013 reportedly flown to Europe where a member of tennis star Novak Djokovic medical team examined his injured knee. 


SIMEON MASABA

Masaba during his stint at URA FC, shows his adventurism upfront with a solo run that left SC Villa midfielder Jeremiah Ssebuyira (R) and and Kenyan striker Oscar Kadenge in his wake during the 2011 Uganda Premier League encounter at Namboole. PHOTO | EDDIE CHICCO

He is undoubtedly Uganda Cranes’ longest serving right back.He spent nearly a decade without anyone challenging him for that position. Masaba played with Uganda Cranes’ generation of captains like Andy Mwesigwa, Ibrahim Ssekagya, Edgar Watson and Phillip Obwiny. 

He was one of the few local based players that commanded a starting position in the national team and was so trusted he at times deputized the captains. Unlike Denis Iguma who replaced him in the Cranes team, Masaba  was so attack minded and played a pivotal role making his customary overlaps. Ugandans will ever remember the group three Afcon qualifier between Uganda and Nigeria played in Kampala on June 2, 2007. The Cranes won 2-1 thanks to goals from David Obua and Ssekagya that overcame the star-studded visitors’ side with personalities like Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka among others in their ranks. 

In this match the Cranes’ right back Richard Malinga was injured and got replaced by Masaba. Masaba fit so well in the team that many at Namboole wondered why his chance in that position had not come earlier. From that day the right back position in the national team belonged to him .He became known and loved for his timed forward movements and pin point trademark crosses. Masaba achieved a lot during his career in the Cranes team. He was in the 2008 team that won the Cecafa title for the 10th time.

In 2012, Masaba took over the Cranes captaincy from Hassan Wasswa when Uganda went on to win the 13th Cecafa as hosts. 
In March 2013 ahead of Group “J” 2014 World Cup qualifier against Liberia clash he was temporarily dropped by coach Bobby Williamson together with Dan Sserunkuma, Hamisi Kizza and  Kizito Luwaga. Bobby was quoted saying; “we are going to miss Masaba and his experience but he is right now in bad form. However, we still need him and he is still in my future plans.”

Masaba started serious football with SC Villa’s nursery team Jogoo Young in 2002. In 2003 experienced coach Stephen Gayige Mulinde brought him to Police FC with Paul Hasule, later transforming him into a better number two. 
In 2004, he joined SC Villa where he spent just a season before returning to Police FC for the 2006-07 season . In 2008 Masaba made a u-turn to SC Villa  leaving the club in 2010  for URA. which he helped win the league in 2011 and two Uganda Cups in 2012 and 2014, as team captain.  He retired in 2015 but returned to URA last month to deputize Sam Ssimbwa as assistant coach. Masaba boasts of  69 Cranes caps.


MASABA factfile (Achievements)

  • Played for Jogoo Young, SC Villa, Police and  URA. 
  • Longest serving player in the Cranes’ right back position. 
  • One of the very few local based players that used to command starting positions consistently in the different Cranes set-ups.  
  • Was attack-minded where his forward movements and pin point trademark passes excited fans.
  • Was part of the Cranes  team that won the 2008 Cecafa title for the 10th time. 
  • Captained Cranes to the 13th  Cecafa Championship in 2012.
  • Won the 2004 league title with SC Villa.
  • Won  the  league with URA in 2011 and two Uganda cups in 2012 and 2014.
  • Was capped 69 times for the Uganda Cranes.
  • Has just been appointed URA FC assistant coach.


NICHOLAS WADADA

Eagle Eyed. Wadada has 
relentless gas to burn and boasts of a killer pass from the right flank. PHOTO/E. CHICCO

He is currently enjoying good form with Tanzanian club Azam. In the just held Tanzanian Premier League player of the year awards, Wadada finished among the top three and ended up being voted the best defender in the country. 
Wadada is considered such an important player at the club that in June, the club chartered a special jet to collect him from Uganda where he had been stranded due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

Wadada joined the Tanzanian club from Vipers in 2018. Wadada who is an attack-minded defender just like Masaba, started out at 13 featuring for Lukuli United in  Makindye division, the same club that nurtured  former Express and Cranes star Hassan Mubiru. He later moved to Jogoo Young. 
After joining St. Mary’s Kitende for secondary school education, it became obvious as day follows night that he would join a club closely linked to the school supremo Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa.

This was Bunamwaya in 2010 before it changed name to Vipers. Wadada joined the Uganda Super League with Bunamwaya at 16 and as a back up player. He became regular at the club during the 2011-12 season when the club finished in second position. 

Two seasons with him on board, the club finished in the same position until they broke the jinx in the 2014-15 season. Wadada stood tall in the Vipers team that clinched the league for the first time by  featuring in over 25 matches and scoring four goals. 

Because of his superb display, it came as no surprise when Wadada was in 2016 appointed Vipers skipper when the club went a step ahead by participating in the Caf Confederation Cup. The sky seemed to be the limit for Wadada who continued to be instrumental as Vipers claimed a second league title during  the 2017-18 season. Besides the league, Wadada won the Uganda Cup with the club in the 2015-16 season. 

In the national team, he was first included in the U-20 team -  the Hippos - in 2012 ahead of the U-20 Afcon qualifiers playing in two matches against Mozambique and Ghana. In 2013 Wadada earned a promotion to the U-23 side with his first Cranes call coming later that year during the era of Bobby Williamson. 

In October 2016, during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, he caused a storm in Tamale City in Ghana when the Ghanaian players and fans protested calling for him to be sent off after fouling Frank Acheampong in the second half. Earlier on, Sudanese referee El Fadhil appeared to give him a yellow card during another incident. Wadada later explained the incident saying, “ in the first half, the referee just warned me verbally with a red card in his fingers.”  
Wadada wasin the Cranes squad that participated at Afcon of 2017 in Gabon and currently has 52 Cranes caps.  

WADADA factfile (Achievements)

  • First played for Lukuli United in Makindye when he was only 13.
  • First played in the Uganda Super League in 2010 with Bunamwaya when aged 16.
  • Played for Bunamwaya, Vipers and currently with Azam of Tanzania.
  • Won the league with Bunamwaya in 2009-10 season.
  • Won the league with Vipers in 2014-14 and 2017-18 seasons.
  • Was in 2016 appointed captain of Vipers SC.
  • Won the Uganda Cup with Vipers in 2015.
  • Played for the U-20 Hippos team in Afcon U-20 Qualifiers.
  • First summoned to Cranes in 2013 by coach Bobby Williamson.
  • Currently capped 52 times with the Cranes.
  • Was this year voted the the best defender in the Tanzania League.
  • Due to Covid-19 restrictions, in June 2020,  Azam FC had to charter a plane to get him out of Uganda and  back to Tanzania.

What others say; by Innocent Ndawula 

Ismael Kigongo - Senior Reporter & Analyst - Kawowo Sports    
Iguma is versatile and can play across defence and midfield but most suited to central defence. Astute defensively but not as good going forward.  Wadada is a natural right back. Good going forwarding but not the best of ball crossers despite his marauding skills. 
Masaba was a good game reader, good going forward and offered decent crosses. His longevity without injuries was also a big plus. The retired Masaba better, for me, because of his decent crosses given its one of the qualities of a good right back.

Patrick Kanyomozi (Sports Producer - KFM & USPA president)
Iguma is not a natural right back but he always put up decent performances. His shortcoming was pace which is important for marauding backs, and in the modern game that’s important. But he has good game-reading abilities. There is not much difference between Masaba and Wadada, both good defensively and offensively though Wadada, who is a better dribble, boasts of also a better final ball. Masaba was a very intelligent player, good header, timed tackles and offered good cover whenever Sekagya went forward. He was also a good leader.

DIANE PEACE BAGALA
(Female sports presenter   - CBS FM & BBS TV) 
First of all, there is no doubt that all aregood players.  But for this particular right back position, each had different attributes. Masaba was consistent , a quick decision maker and literally solved the right back syndrome at the national team level for a long time. Wadada stands out in pace ,fluidity and delivery in terms of crosses whereas Iguma’s physiqueand aerial prowess is spectacular. Masaba is my pick for the best because of his consistency in that position for a long time more so on the national team. Don’t forget the few goals he scored!

LEON S. SSENYANGE:
(Sports Analyst & USPA vice president)
Masaba still stands out for me. He was more versatile at right-back. He commanded his zone quite well. He was brilliant with his dribbles and crosses. Records have him with seven goals for the national team. That certainly is a good stat for a player of his stature. He also was a leader.  Wadada has certainly watched Masaba and Iguma play. There certainly was much for him to learn on his passage to owning He is indeed good with his forward runs, commands authority as well. 
I prefer Iguma as a defensive midfielder than at right back. He holds the ball better, had a better eye for attack, great shots and header of the ball.  I would rate him low at right back. He may not give you the kind of runs Wadada and Masaba can.