It’s exactly one year, five months and three days since he passed on but David Otti’s legacy in football circles remains intact.
Born in 1940 to late Abuneli Ogaba and Julia Akito at Pecce Gulu district, Otti went to Gulu Primary school, Gulu high School, Mbale SS and Maraka College in Kumi for his education.
Football Career as a player:
Otti began his football career with UEB FC in 1959 where he spent two seasons and joined Bitumastic FC in 1962.
He later moved to Coffee FC where he acted as a coach player in 1966.
At Coffee FC, Otti won the league the title in 1970 and the Uganda Cup the following year.
International career:
He made his national team debut in 1960 against Kenya’s Harambe Stars in the Gossage Cup (current Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup) and by 1962; he had cemented his place on the team.
Otti was part of the Cranes team that took part in the 1968 Africa Nations Cup in Ethiopia.
As a Cranes player, Otti is most remembered for scoring the decisive penalty against Kenya in the Gossage Cup finals in 1969.
He quit football in 1971 and went to West Germany where he attained UEFA B Coaching License.
Fruitful Coaching Career:
Otti commenced his coaching career in 1973 with The Cranes after the departure of Germany Coach Bukhard Pape. Surprisingly, he guided the team to the Cecafa Senior Challenge title.
He also led The Uganda Cranes to the 1974 and 1976 Nations Cup finals in Egypt and Ethiopia respectively.
After the 1976 edition, he took over at Simba SC and helped the side lift the league title in 1978.
He then crossed to neighbours Kenya and guided Gor Mahia FC to the Cecafa Club Championship in 1981 but shortly returned home and was appointed the General Secretary of National Council of Sports in 1983.
A year later, he joined SC Villa and guided it to the 1984 league title before making a U-turn to Kenya to Coach Volcano United FC in 1985-1987.
At this moment, he had become the most sought after tactician in the region and was lured to Somalia where he coached Mogadishu Municipal Council and led the club to two league titles.
He returned to Uganda in 1991 and moved to Express FC. At Wankulukuku, Otti guided the club to their first league title in 18 years in 1993 plus two Kakungulu Cup trophies in 1992 and 1994.
He quit Express FC after the 1994 season and signed at Villa but weeks later, he moved to Rwanda where he guided APR FC to league titles in 1995 and 1996 and finishing runners up in the 1996 Cecafa Club championship losing to Simba SC of Tanzania.
He returned to Villa in 1997 but spent just a season at the club before joining minnows Military Police FC in 1998 which he guided to the finals of Kakungulu Cup in 2000 losing to Paul Hasule’s SC Villa in the finals.
He joined KCC FC in 2001 but shortly left the club in 2002 and took some break from coaching.
He returned to the dugout after four years at first division side City lads FC and surprisingly guided it to the top tier division in 2007.
He also coached Mbale based Child Restoration Organisation FC (CRO) in 2008 but shortly returned to Express FC where he was appointed the club’s technical director.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA)appointed him the Psychological coach of the national team in 2010.
Sudden death:
Coach Otti as famously known developed diabetes and was admitted at Mulago Hospital in April 2010 and his leg was amputated. He however recovered well and despite the amputation, he still remained a present figure at all football related events and never shied away from the game.
On the 3rd March 2011, Coach David Otti passed away at CaseMedCare in Kampala immediately after arrival at the clinic. Family sources indicate that he collapsed after returning from shopping with his wife.
He was buried at his ancestral home in Pecce Gulu District. He might have died but his legacy still lives on and will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches the region has ever produced.
May his Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
My Last words with the Legend:
I last spoke to Coach David Otti at Nakivubo Stadium on 7th October 2010 while The Cranes were preparing ahead of the AFCON qualifier away to Kenya. I asked him what to expect from the game and he told me.
“My son, Kenya – Uganda has never been an easy game and don’t be surprised with a bad outcome. From our time, Kenya was not easy and the team shouldn’t expect an easy ride. I will be happy if we get a point”
What people talk about him:
“He was the most honest coach in the country. To him, it was not about the amount of money a team offers but who approached him first for his services”, Hassan Badru Zziwa of the Observer Media Ltd.
“Uganda and the region in general lost the greatest footballer who propelled Uganda to greater football heights”, said Kenyan legend Joe Kadenge who played against him in the 1960 Gossage Cup.
David Otti Fact File:
Born in 1940 and died on the 3rd March 2011
Played for three clubs UEB FC, Bitumastic FC and Coffee FC
Coached several clubs in East and Central Africa – SC Villa, Express FC, KCC FC, Coffee FC, Military Police FC, City Lads and CRO FC in Uganda, Gor Mahia FC and Volcano United in Kenya, Mogadishu Municipal Council FC in Somalia and APR FC in Rwanda.
Won several titles – 1 League and Uganda Cup trophies with Coffee (1971) and (1972) respectively, a league title with Simba SC (1978), Cecafa Club Championship with Gor Mahia (1981), a league title with SC Villa (1984), Two league titles with Mogadishu Municipal Council FC, a league title and two Kakungulu Cup trophies with Express FC (1993) and (1992 & 1994) respectively, Two league titles with APR FC (1995 & 1996), Two Cecafa titles with Uganda Cranes as Coach in 1973 and Gossage Cup in 1969.
With the above trophies, Otti remains the most decorated coach in the region and his legacy still lives on.
Sources: Hassan Badru Zziwa – The Observer Media Ltd, Cecafa Wikipedia, David Otti Wikipedia, SCVilla.com, Gor Mahia FC achieves and The Daily Monitor.
