Maroons’ play maker Solomon Walusimbi has dedicated the explicit strike against Masavu in the 2016/17 FUFA Big League final match of the season to the beloved mother, Rebecca Ssebagala.
In an exclusive interview with Kawowo Sports on Tuesday, the soft spoken though immensely talented player disclosed to Kawowo Sports that his mother deserves all the praise for his heroics.
My mother has been encouraging all throughout my career.
She is a parent and at the same time a friend.
I dedicate the goal to her. Good enough, she was in the stadium to watch it live.
Ssebagala was among the hundreds of fans who thronged the Phillip Omondi stadium on Sunday as Maroons outwitted Masavu 2-1 to win the closely contested final.
Asaph Mwebaze’s charges recovered a goal down to win the game and lift the title.
Joseph Nkabirwa gave Masavu the lead when he pounced on a Ddumba Sadala goal bound shot to give the Entebbe side the lead on 19 minutes.
Towards the end of the first half, Patrick Kaddu, the regular season top scorer of the FUFA Big League with 16 goals powerfully headed home the equalizer off Eddie Kapampa’s telling delivery on 42 minutes.
Two minutes later arrived the moment of the day.
Masavu defenders Lawrence Bakiranze and Solomon Wafula hesitated to clear a high ball before Walusimbi who was facing his own goal acrobatically volleyed home past a stranded goalie Yusuf Wasswa.
It required no other chance as the hundreds of Maroons fans celebrated wildly.
If the goal was magnificent, Walusimbi’s celebration was elegant.
After the goal, he raced towards the Forest Mall cum Legends Rugby Club corner flag.
He then crawled like 2-year-old bottle fed toddler, yearning for the container that has its treasured drink – milk.
He explains the essence of the celebration;
I ran to the corner flag. I saw my teammates running after me. I decided to crawl like a baby.
It was just fun. Anyway, I recalled the days when I was a baby and mum would carry me. I love my mother and that is why I dedicate the goal to her.
The intelligent play maker eyes a successful season in the Uganda Premier League.
It is good we have qualified again to the Uganda Premier League.
We definitely need to keep working hard and stay focused. I thank my teammates and coaching staff led by coach Asaph.
They have all been great. I can not forget the fans and my personal friends especially Lumansi who always encouraged me and motivated me.
Maroons had been relegated at the end of the 2014/15 season.
They topped the Elgon Group with 46 points as Masavu championed the Rwenzori catergory with 51 points.