{UAH} WBK/Robukui: The good old days!!!! Before the Villa - KCC confusion, there was KCC - Nile
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Before the Villa - KCC confusion, there was KCC - Nile
Written by Hassan Badru Zziwa
Saturday's dramatic events that led to the abandonment of the Uganda Cup final between SC Villa and KCC FC found me in office but I was lucky to watch everything unfold on television.
It was clear from the onset that the centre referee wasn't ready for the big occasion and his decision to award Villa a dubious penalty turned the match on its head. It goes without saying that KCCA players and fans also exacerbated the matter to force the abrupt anticlimax.
What I found intriguing is that the match mirrored KCC's 1982 Uganda Cup final against Nile FC in more ways than one and whereas KCC felt the victim against Villa, they were the beneficiaries against Nile.
Here is how it all unfolded in the lead-up to the 1982 final.
MUSISI THE HERO
Back then, KCC looked the better side having finished runners-up to league champions SC Villa and on top of that, the Lugogo-based side had come through the tougher draw; eliminating Villa in the quarterfinals before beating bitter rivals Express FC in the semis. In both rounds, they had to thank Fred Musisi Kiyingi for netting the winning goals.
Nile, on the other hand, had performed beyond expectations to finish fourth in the league after they narrowly avoided the drop in the 1981 season.
George Kakaire, a former National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary, had just taken over Nile's coaching reins after replacing Natal Mwaka, the tactician who guided them to the 1980 league title. But Kakaire's coaching credentials paled in comparison to KCC's coaching tandem of Bidandi Ssali (who doubled as Cranes caretaker coach) and player/coach Moses Nsereko.
In the league, KCC had beaten Nile in the first round 1-0 but the two teams shared the spoils in the second round at Bugembe. This was KCC's third time to reach the final and they had won on the two previous occasions in 1979 and 1980. Nile was taking part in its first finale.
DOUBTS ABOUT THE REFEREE
Ironically, the biggest concern in the buildup was referee Moses Mandu, a relatively little-known figure who was allocated high pressure game. The grade one official had made several errors during the league but the referees' appointment committee went ahead to appoint him.
Efforts by a section of fans to have experienced referees such as Isaac Mugoya, Blasio Mwebe, George Ntege and Israel Kintu handle the match were resisted by Caleb Babihuga's Fufa administration.
Come D-day at Nakivubo stadium on October 23, 1982, Nile entered the game as slight underdogs by virtue of their inexperienced lineup but KCC had many players who had won the title before.
The stadium had been parked to capacity as early as 2pm. Nile fans, clad in red attires, stormed the city centre in several matatus from Jinja but they were outnumbered by KCC supporters. Dr James Rwanyarare, the then Culture, Youth and Community Development minister, was chief guest and the atmosphere was really good.
Nile pressed the action straightaway but failed to penetrate KCC's firm defence marshaled by John Latigo. It soon became a seesaw affair but when tackles started flying, a clearly timid Mandu remained cautious, opting to keep his cards in the pocket.
It reached a point when the match got halted for two minutes as KCC players remonstrated with Mandu over Nile's persistent fouling. Play resumed but some fans threatened to abandon the game if Mandu failed to act on the rough play from both sides. A few minutes to half time, Davis Kamoga broke the deadlock with a canon shot to give KCC the lead.
LATIGO MADNESS
The deficit seemed to inspire Nile to give up rough play and they stormed out of recess like wounded lions eager to get the equalizer. Nile immensely pressured KCC but Latigo and company held firm. Hell broke loose at the hour mark, just as it happened on Saturday.
An exasperated Moses Musoke viciously fouled Latigo but the latter retaliated with a left hook that left the former KCC academy player bleeding profusely from the face. The ensuing scuffle soon developed into a fist-fight between the two sets of players but Mandu didn't take any action when tempers cooled.
After Musoke was treated, it was obvious the referee was going to send off Latigo but after consulting with his assistant, Mandu only showed Latigo a yellow card. This dismayed everyone apart from KCC players.
NILE WALK OFF
Nile players protested and skipper Edward Kinobe, who was injured and didn't feature in the game, rushed onto the pitch and had a heated pep talk with stand-in captain Matthew Lucha. Kinobe clearly wanted Nile players to abandon the game but Lucha was willing to continue.
It was at this point that several Nile officials openly asked players to walk off the field, which they did and the match was abandoned. Rwanyarare looked embarrassed, a posture KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi replicated on Saturday. He was quickly driven out but the anticipated chaos didn't materialise.
In the days that followed, the National Football League Committee (NFLC) awarded KCC the title by forfeiture. NFLC based their decision on Mandu's report, which faulted Nile for abandoning the game.
SQUADS:
KCC: Paul Ssali, Yusuf Ssonko, Sam Musenze, Charles Katumba, John Latigo, Fred Mugisha, Sam Mugambe, Moses Nsereko, Davis Kamoga, Godfrey Kateregga and Fred Musisi
Reserves: John Tebusweke, Hassan Biruma, Kent Lutaya and Rashid Mudin
Nile: Adam Wenga, Mike Diku, Edward Mugula, Richard Makumbi, Paul Olya, Moses Musoke, Edward Mukiibi, Mathew Lucha, Mario Obwoya , Sam Natulya and Meda Lukungu
Reserves: Patrick Lwanga, Joseph Mukasa, Tadeo Azabo, Mike Latim, Yosa Yekka and Dakitari Jalobo
The author is operations director of The Observer Media Ltd.
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