http://www.observer.ug/sports/37902-how-coffee-was-robbed-of-the-1985-league-title

How Coffee was robbed of the 1985 league title

Written by Hassan Badru Zziwa

Vintage: The KCC team in 1985. Back row L-R Peter Mazinga, Tom Lwanga, Phillip Omondi, Peter Wandyete, Joseph Mulego, Joseph Sekitto and Charles Masiko. Front row L-R: Charles Katumba, George Nsimbe, John Latigo and John Tebusweke

A wave of nostalgia swept over me when I saw the mammoth crowd that turned up at Nakivubo stadium to watch the Vipers versus Villa league decider on Saturday.

For a moment, I even forgot what was at stake as I contemplated on how the two teams had pulled off this trick. If I had said at the start of the season that this encounter would draw a capacity crowd, raking millions of shillings, I'm sure football critics would have considered me an absolute day-dreamer.

The gist in all this is that Ugandan football, after all, is not dead as some may want to portray it. It has been some time since we last had a thrilling finish to the league that attracted the attention of football enthusiasts.

The 2009 decider between URA and KCC FC lacked the spark and animosity needed for a thriller while the 2004 double-header between Villa and Express went overboard and turned out to be a complete farce. Then again, KCC's tug of war with Villa in 1997 is memorable as well as the Jogoos' nail-biting clincher with Express FC in 1994.
FOUR-HORSE RACE

All these showdowns involved two teams vying for the title and none comes close in comparison with the 1985 season, where four teams went into the final game of the season with a real chance of running away with the crown.

Interestingly, this scenario was all brought about by Coffee FC, a club previously known for its giant-killing instincts but not title credentials. SC Villa were the defending champions and wanted to continue the dominance whereas Coffee wanted to win their first title after 15 years. Meanwhile, KCC and Express were looking to recapture the lost glory.

Coffee had finished runners-up behind champions KCC in 1983 as the 'Big Boss' era of club leaders caught up with Alex Kiseego, who dug deep in his pockets to sign some of the big names in the sport.

So, before the start of the 1985 season, he lined up a strong squad of Cranes stars such as Richard Makumbi, Alex Olum, John Mapeera, Vincent Semanobe, Obadiah Semakula, Richard Mugalu and Simon Omba.

They teamed up with battle-hardened players such as John Ntensibe, Edward Baguma, Martin Ochaga, Rogers Semere, Robert Kiwanuka and Patrick Kiho (goalkeepers), David Sewanonda, Med Matovu, Robert Oketha and promising Joseph Maya.

The Bugolobi-based side was handled by former players James Nswaswa and Sam Timbe with Fred Jjuuko as team manager. For the first in years, Coffee was at par with the traditional Big Three.
KCC IN BREAKAWAY LEAD

However, it was KCC that set the pace with an unbeaten run in the first round of games.

Incidentally, the Lugogo-based side dropped just a point in 15 games following a 1-1 draw with Coffee to end the first phase with 29 points.

Express followed closely with 25 points while third-placed SC Villa had 23 points with Coffee on 22. At the time, a win warranted two points and a draw one point.
LEAGUE SUSPENDED

Just two games into the second round, a coup d'état on July 29 that ushered in Gen Tito Okello as president forced the postponement of the league due to the insecurity in the country.

The decision was preceded by several murders of player under unclear circumstances. These included Tobacco FC striker Ismael Taban, Nile FC defender Paul Orya and later SC Villa midfielder Shaban Mwinda.
DRAMA AS COFFEE CRUISE TO TITLE

When the dust finally settled, the league resumed but due to limited time, there was bound to be fixture congestion and two games were fixed at Nakivubo stadium on match days.

The break suited Coffee well and they started the second round strongly, beating all the top sides SC Villa, KCC and Express and jumped on top of the table by September 1985. KCC was worst hit due to their involvement in the Caf Cup Winners Cup. They lost further ground after defeats to UCB FC and Maroons and by October, they had been relegated to fourth.

With five games to go, Villa lay second while Express kept hopes alive in third. But, there was no doubt Coffee, who enjoyed a three-point cushion over Villa, was running away with it.

Coffee's biggest drive was the top form of players such as skipper Olum, Semanobe, Semakula, Omba, Mapeera and Makumbi, whose rich vein of form earned them summons to the Uganda Cranes side that was preparing for the Cecafa Cup in Zimbabwe. Just when Coffee was counting down to a memorable final bend, the team's spirits were dampened by a controversial dossier by the National Football League Committee (NFLC).

The league governing body pointed out that Coffee ineligibly fielded defender Sam Serunkuma in games against Nsambya, Nile and Mbale Heroes after accumulating three yellow cards, which would have warranted a suspension. Coffee had won two and drawn one of the three matches.

Therefore, NFLC deducted three points and three goals from Coffee. Coffee cried foul, claiming that Serunkuma's third yellow card recorded against SC Villa was instead shown to Semanobe.

Coffee officials petitioned Fufa and promised to produce evidence for that matter, but a lack of clout in the running of the game may have cost them and Fufa, depending on referee Isaac Mugonya's report, upheld NFLC's decision.
PHOTO FINISH

Many football pundits questioned NFLC and Fufa's decision as well as the timing. Neutrals wondered why Fufa took months to bring out the anomaly and also questioned the motive because no club had petitioned the bodies on that matter.

The decision was a bitter pill to swallow for Coffee and it greatly deflated the team morale. In the subsequent game after the debacle, they lost to lowly Uganda Airlines. Villa took up the advantage by jumping on the table summit.

In a new twist, the Jogoos faltered by losing 0-1 to Simba which was followed by a 1-1 draw with Nile. Villa's misfortunes helped KCC and Express to return into the picture and turn the climax into a photo finish.

KCC had now assumed the leadership by the slimmest of margins ahead of Express. Both had 38 points but KCC's superior goal-difference of just a single goal kept them above. So, all four teams went into the final round of games separated by a single point.

It was an extremely dicey moment that put everyone on tenterhooks. Sadly, there was no simultaneous play of games; and playing ahead of everyone, Coffee knew they stood no chance. They lost. Villa too needed the leading pair to lose, which again was next to impossible given what was at stake. They could only draw.

Express did their part by beating Nile 2-1 but rued the missed opportunity of scoring many goals and had to anxiously wait for the outcome between KCC and Airlines. Knowing a win by any scoreline would guarantee the title, KCC easily won 3-0 to take the title on goal difference of three.

Coffee never recovered from the setback of deducted points and didn't contend for any trophy until the club dissolution in 1995. Express got a consolation by beating KCC 3-1 to win the 1985 Uganda Cup title while SC Villa went back on the drawing board and won the next five league titles in a row.

To this day, 1985 remains the most exhilarating climax to a season and will forever be remembered for Coffee's stumble.
bzziwa@observer.ug

The author is operations director of The Observer Media Ltd.