{UAH} Abbey/WBK: Ouma, Dibya and Wasswa lead way in Simba’s best XI
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Ouma, Dibya and Wasswa lead way in Simba's best XI
The current Simba SC side may be struggling in the mid-table but there is no doubt it is the most successful club from the seventies.
It formed the bulk of Cranes teams in that era and its deadly trio led the side to its biggest successes including the 1971 league title on top of finishing runners-up in the 1972 Africa Club Championship.
Simba would later win the 1977 Uganda Cup and tasted as well as the 1978 league crown. Their last major silverware was the 2011 Uganda Cup.
Goal: PAUL SSALI
He is perhaps the most revered goalie in Ugandan football. Tagged 'Commando' due to his bravery and consistency, Ssali was the main man in the days the army side won the Uganda Cup and league title in 1977 and 1978 respectively. On many occasions, Ssali won many games for Simba because of his superb game reading.
He joined Simba from Masindi Artillery FC as a rookie keeper in 1972 only to become the first choice custodian at the expense of veteran Patrick Nathan, Fred Nkolwa and Ramadhan Sebbi. He would later become the national team number one for many years but left Simba after the 1979 war and two years later, he moved to KCCA FC. Now popularly known as Gogolimbo, he remains active in football as a delegate.
Right back: ABDUL WASSWA
A hard-tackler and man-marker, his direct approach made the Simba backline fearful. He arrived in 1974 and two years later claimed the right fullback position from Abdul Kiggundu. Apart from Express' Mike Kiganda who occasionally reduced Wasswa to look ordinary, the latter was unstoppable.
Left back: JOSEPH WEPUKULU
He was part of the outstanding Gangama side that won the 1976 Uganda Cup title and his performance attracted Simba coach David Otti to sign him. The overlapping defender was versatile and was at times fielded on the left wing. However, his best position was left full back.
Centre back: MEDDIE LUBEGA
Ahmed Doka would have been my automatic choice for this slot had I seen him at his peak. Instead, he spent his final career on the bench as Lubega enjoyed playing time.
The eldest from a footballing family that includes his siblings Moses Ndaula and Sula Kato, Lubega joined Simba from Police FC and established himself as a force with his aerial superiority.
He enjoyed a good understanding with Clement Baraza and the two were unbeatable. Lubega's consistence earned him an invite to The Cranes as Tom Lwanga's understudy. Unfortunately, he was kidnapped in 1983 and never resurfaced.
Centre back: GEORGE OTTO
He was widely viewed as the country's best sweeper in the late 1980s. He emerged from the army ranks to become one of the finest centre halves. In 1986, Otto was snapped up by SC Villa and greatly improved his game playing alongside the legendary Paul Hasule.
However, he made a U-turn to Simba 1988 and formed a formidable back four to keep the newly-promoted side in the topflight up to date. He left Simba in the early 1990s and relocated to England.
Central midfield: FRANCIS KULABIGWO
There was only one Kulabigwo. An industrious defensive midfielder who played box-to-box and made all who played around him seem great.
Not only was he a regular at Simba, he was a mainstay in The Cranes. He was daring with timely tackles as well as a good ball distributor. His understanding with Godfrey Kisitu made Simba's midfield the best in the 1970s.
However, his career was brought to an abrupt halt in 1979 when he was arrested and imprisoned following the fall of the Idi Amin regime. But upon release in 1981, he joined Nytil and later became coach of the Jinja-based side.
Central midfield: GODFFREY KISITU
The tireless midfielder-cum-striker was arguably the best header of the ball during his peak. He was also a high-scoring player and many of the goals were crucial headers. He is most remembered for scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes which denied Express the 1976 league title.
He left Simba when the team was dissolved and moved to SC Villa in 1982. His siblings are Wilson Nsobya and Fred Sekasi while former Cranes midfielder Hassan Wasswa is his nephew.
Right midfield: JOHN DIBYA
He formed one third of the 'deadly trio' along with Polly Ouma and Swalleh Wasswa. No team was safe when the threesome was in action for both Simba and Uganda Cranes. His performance eclipsed the talent of George Sukuma though Joachim Ndaula came up but could not fit in the shoes of Dibya.
The fast winger was not a natural goal scorer but a good crosser of the ball. He retired in 1975 and soon became the Simba coach. However, things did not work out well and he moved to Express. He passed on in the 1990s.
Left midfield: FRED ISABIRYE
A surprise recruit from Inter Battalion games in Jinja in 1976, Isabirye's pace and powerful feet were greatly admired by coach Otti, who preferred him to Henry Kisekka.
Like Dibya, he created the majority of the goals scored by Kisitu, Zubair Hussein and Ouma. He transferred his form to Uganda Cranes and coach Peter Okee named him ahead of veteran Barnabas Mwesiga in Ghana in 1978. He died during the 1979 war at Buddo, Masaka road. Ibrahim Buwembo and John Namasaka also did a commendable job.
Centre forward: SWALLEY WASSWA
One of the finest strikers to wear both Simba and Uganda Cranes jerseys, Wasswa often scored at will. His consistence and disciplined game could not be matched, and his absence in 1975 after being attacked by thugs reduced Simba's dominance.
He retired from football in 1975 and died in January 1988. Moses Kasita and Kisitu also did a commendable job but there could only be one place in the team and that is reserved for Wasswa.
Centre forward: POLLY OUMA
I might have seen him in the evening of his career but Simba has never produced a centre forward like Ouma. His dribbling skills and fine finishing were next to none.
He was an inspiration when Simba reached the final of Africa Club Championship. His leadership qualities earned him the club armband for eight years. He crossed to Kenya when the team was dissolved and returned to Uganda in 1986 to handle SC Villa. Zubair Hussein, Yusuf Namunye and Robert Sentongo all tried but Ouma is unmatched.
Coach: DAVID OTTI
By the time he was appointed head coach in 1977, Simba was a sleeping giant having last won the league in 1971. Otti came up with a winning formular recruiting a host of youthful players.
As a result, he guided the army side to the 1977 Uganda Cup and a year later his side ran away with the league title.
bzziwa@observer.ug
The author is operations director of The Observer Media Ltd.
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