{UAH} Abbey/WBK: Uganda’s greatest eleven
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Uganda's greatest eleven
This is an age-old debate guaranteed to cause debate and disagreement in what is the most subjective topic in football - selecting the greatest eleven of all time.
Everyone has their own favourite footballers and their own ranking criteria when it comes to judging greatness.
For me the main factors I consider when looking at who is the very best of all time and where I put them in my team depends on factors such as impact they had in their prime, longevity, ability to rescue a team and level of competition faced during their career. As a disclaimer, I based my selection solely on players I saw since 1975.
Goal: PAUL SSALI (Simba/KCCA)
A shot-stopper with elastic dives and determination as well as a good organizer. He was The Cranes' number one during the golden era of the seventies and much of Uganda's success in that era is attributed to Ssali's top form.
He is remembered for the heroics when Uganda won back-to-back 1976 and 1977 Cecafa Cup. His outstanding show in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana evokes sweet memories.
Right back: EDDIE SEMWANGA (Maroons/Masaka Union)
A fitness freak during his 12-year career in the national team, Semwanga was also a dead-ball specialist, often scoring crucial goals courtesy of his pile drivers.
He is also remembered for taking the free-kick from which Jimmy Kirunda headed in to hand Uganda Cranes a place in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana at the expense of Ethiopia. He retired from Uganda Cranes in 1982 and passed on in 1994.
Left back: ASHE MUKASA (Express)
Always the smartest player on the field, Mukasa's overlaps on the left wing always left his opponents bewildered.
Mukasa started out as a left winger but he was switched to left back in 1973 following the injury suffered by Joseph Onziga. He featured in three Africa Cup of Nations (1974, 1976 & 1978) and was selected in the tournament team of 1976. Mukasa is a businessman in Kampala.
Centre back: TOM LWANGA (KCCA)
Lwanga was stylish defender, cool-headed and excellent game reader. His defending left many strikers dazed and few wanted to face him. He was self-assured with pace and a fine ball passer.
He joined The Cranes in 1975 after displacing Ahmed Doka and since then he remained a Cranes mainstay in the team and achieved whatever the Cranes achieved in the late seventies. He has remained close to the game and has handled various teams including the parliamentary side.
Centre back: JIMMY KIRUNDA (KCCA/SC Villa)
The classy defender spent 14 years in the national team, ten of which as skipper. He bulldozed virtually every opposition player he came across. When it required elegance, he was the man and was also the go-to man in times of grit.
He could put his head where others feared for their legs and was a master of overlapping, often scoring for fun. He was arguably the most respected player in the history of Ugandan football and led Uganda Cranes to three Africa Cup of Nations events (1974, 1976 and 1978) and on top of two Cecafa Cup triumphs (1976 and 1977). He is a commercial farmer based in Gayaza.
Central midfield: FRANCIS KULABIGWO (Coffee/Simba)
An industrious midfielder who covered the entire pitch. Kulabigwo's most famous role was winning possession due to his well-time tackles. His understanding with Moses Nsereko was a joy to watch as it gave a good cover for the defence.
He joined Cranes in late sixties and retired from Uganda Cranes in 1976. He stays at Namugongo, a suburb in Wakiso district.
Central midfield: MOSES NSEREKO (KCCA)
Nicknamed the 'master planner' or 'Kisolo Kyamanyi,' Nsereko was the midfield enforcer in the team and made all those surrounded him to be good. He had the heart and toughness to win every game.
A leader on and off the pitch, Nsereko was the national team's most influential player for a longtime and captained Uganda Cranes in 1980 when Kirunda joined the paid ranks.
A fearless player with high level of ball protection, Nsereko could single-handedly leave the entire defence beaten before making a killer pass or score. He played in three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations (1974, 1976 and 1978) and he was one of the two players selected in the 1978 team of the tournament. He joined Cranes in 1973 and retired in 1982. He was Fufa general secretary until his murder on September 15, 1991.
Right midfield: STANLEY MUBIRU (Express/UCB/Nsambya)
He was tagged 'Tanker' because of his rugged physical strength and the way he filtered through the opposition defences. Speed was his key weapon and he was also a fine crosser of the ball, often creating assists for teammates.
Opponents dreaded marking him due to his sturdiness and it was almost impossible to bring him down. He was selected the best right winger from the 1974 Africa Cup of Nations. He passed away in 1989.
Left midfield: DENIS OBUA (Police/Maroons/SC Villa)
I was fortunate to be around when Obua played top football. A great left winger he played for Police FC most of his career but also had stint with Maroons and SC Villa. He possessed probably the hardest shot in Ugandan football and opponents planned their games basing on him.
His combination with Ouma, Swalleh Wasswa and John Dibya was the reason for Uganda Cranes dominance in the 1970s. He played in three Africa Cup of Nations (1968, 1974 and 1976).
He scored one of the three goals against Algeria which handed Uganda a place in the 1974 Afcon. Obua served as Fufa boss for six years but died on May 4, 2010.
Centre forward: POLLY OUMA (Coffee/Simba)
One of the finest strikers ever, Ouma scored goals at will. He scored the equalizer against Algeria which handed Uganda a ticket to the 1974 Afcon event in Egypt and his absence in the team always had a negative impact. A case in point was when he retired in 1974.
Thereafter, Uganda failed to win any meaningful fixture. Angry fans petitioned the National Council for Sports (NCS) to persuade him make a U-turn. Indeed, he bounced back in 1975, helping Uganda to qualify for the 1976 Afcon.
He joined Uganda Cranes in 1967 and retired after the 1978 event in Ghana. For a long time, he coached The Cranes, winning three Cecafa Cup titles (1989, 1990 and 1992).
Centre forward: PHILLIP OMONDI (KCCA)
Omondi had it all; skill, speed and stamina. The football wizard, one of the finest strikers ever produced in Uganda. He could do virtually everything with the ball. Fans tagged him magician. He was a complete player; self-assured whose dribbling style and ball control endeared him to all fans irrespective of club affiliation.
He was a joint top-scorer in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations and along with Nsereko, was selected in the team of the tournament. He joined Uganda Cranes in 1973 and retired in 1987 but he passed away in April 1999.
Coach: PETER OKEE
He guided Uganda to the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations final in Ghana before helping Uganda win back-to back of Cecafa Cup (1976 and 1977). He was picked Uganda Cranes coach in 1976 replacing David Otti until October 1984 when he was replaced by George Mukasa.
At club level he spent more than a decade handling Maroons but later moved to Nile FC before crossing to Kenya to coach Mumias. He returned to Uganda in 1998 and passed away in the same year.
I have changed my mind on the greatest team many times over the last few years and found it worth mentioning an alternative team due to the tight task of picking the best.
1. Goal: SADIQ WASSA (Nile /KCCA)
2. Right back: WILLIAM NKEMBA (SC Villa)
3. Left back: RICHARD MUGALU (Express/Coffee)
4. Centre back: PAUL HASULE (Mbale Heroes/SC Villa)
5. Centre back: JOHN LATIGO (KCCA)
6. Central midfield: MIKE KIGANDA (Express/ Nsambya)
7. Right midfield: RONNIE VUBYA (Villa)
8. Central midfield: STEVEN BOGERE (Tobacco/ Villa/Spear)
9. Centre forward: MAGID MUSISI (Villa)
10. Centre forward: JACKSON MAYANJA (KCCA)
11. Left midfield: GODFREY KATEREGGA (KCCA/ Villa/Express)
Coach: BURKHARD PAPE
bzziwa@observer.ug
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