When stripped to its foundations, getting goals is the aim of the beautiful game, and strikers are generally charged with providing the goods.
Since its inception, Uganda’s topflight league has seen a plethora of great forwards with pundits and fans alike perennially debating which striker takes the crown of the best ever on in Uganda’s top division.
From the small and skilful, to the burly battering rams; strikers have come in all shapes and sizes. Here is Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga attempt at a Top 10; a list of names so fantastic it makes you shiver down the spine. Is there one particular individual that bests the rest or we skipped someone?
Ali Kitonsa (R.I.P) – Express FC
Regarded one of the best strikers Uganda has ever had. It is believed the deceased holds the record for the highest number of goals in any local league – 54 in 18 games as Express won the 1964 Kampala District First Division League. He also won the first golden boot at the inception of the league in 1969. He holds the record for first Ugandan to play professional football when he signed for Zamalek in Egypt in 1964.
Mathias Kaweesa – Nsambya FC, Coffee United SC, SC Villa and Express FC
One of the few strikers to have won three golden boots and the only player to do it with three different clubs. He top scored in the 1988 season with 17 goals while at Nsambya, repeated the feat in 1991 with Coffee SC United where he netted 18 goals and then in 1993 with SC Villa scoring an amazing 20 goals. Even in his old days in Express FC, he was a double figure goal grabber.
Isa Ssekatawa – Nytil FC and Express FC
Only he and Hassan Mubiru have won the league golden boot three times in a row. Ssekatawa top scored in 1981 with 18 goals while playing for Nytil FC and the goals earned him a move to Wankulukuku.
At Express FC, he was a menace to the defenders and maintained his goal scoring instincts with 22 and 21 goals in 1982 and 1983 respectively all fetching him the top scorer’s accolade.
Frank Kyazze – KCC FC
A legend at Kampala City Council FC; where he led the goal scoring charts with 18 goals in 1984 and then added 10 more to the figure in the 1985 season. His 28 goals in 1985 helped KCC FC wrestle the league championship from SC Villa.
Davis Kamoga – KCC FC
Ensured the top scorer accolade stayed at Lugogo for three years on the bounce by finishing top of the charts in 1979 (18) and 1980 (21).
Unfortunately, his goals could do little to salvage the tile for KCC FC in those years as UCB and Nile Breweries won the title in those years respectively.
Andrew ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa – SC Villa, Express FC and URA FC
One of the front-runners for the recognition as best striker ever, Mukasa was nothing short of a revelation for SC Villa, terrorizing defences across the land with his accurate finishing.
He Holds the official record for most goals scored in a single season when he bundled in 45 goals in 1999. Mukasa also scored a staggering 27 goals the following season to claim his second consecutive golden boot.
His goal scoring exploits earned him a transfer to rivals Express FC but failed to live up to his billing after suffering mental illness which eventually forced him into early retirement.
Magid Musisi (R.I.P) – SC Villa
No striker has won more golden boots than the late Magid Musisi. The striker finished top of the goal scoring charts in 1987 (28), 1989 (15), 1990 (28) and 1992 (29).
A rampaging menace for SC Villa up top who was blessed with power, pace, aerial superiority and accurate finishing.
No wonder, his goals earned him a move to Rennes; becoming the first Ugandan to play in Europe.
Phillip Omondi (R.I.P) – KCC FC
Inexorably fixed in KCC FC folklore, Omondi was a glimpse of things to come at Lugogo. Omondi is arguably the greatest player not only to play for KCC FC but Uganda Cranes too.
Not a goal-scorer by trade, ‘Omo’ as famously known was a wonderfully inventive second striker, with the ability to win a game with a delicate touch from both legs. Loved unconditionally by everyone associated with football in the country. Surprisingly, he has no league golden boot to show but was a menace to defences.
Hassan ‘Figo’ Mubiru – SC Villa, Express FC and Victors FC
Unconfirmed records indicate Hassan Mubiru as Uganda’s league all time goal scorer with over 147 goals. He boasts of three golden boots all achieved while playing for Express FC in 2001 (27), 2002 (22) and 2003 (16)
While Mubiru was an accomplished striker, such was his all-round ability that he could easily slot into almost every forward position on the pitch.
Maurice Sunguti – Express FC and SC Villa
One of the few foreigners that took the Ugandan league by storm. Played for Express FC and later SC Villa after being ditched by the Red Eagles following the capture of Hassan Mubiru but surprised most when he went neck to neck with Mubiru in the fight for the golden boot in corresponding seasons.
** Information from Wikipedia and The Observer Media was partly used in compiling this article.
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