Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Football Club has confirmed Sam Bamweyana “Omulangira” Ssimbwa, 51, as their new head coach on a care taker basis until the end of the current 2017/18 Uganda Premier League season.
The knowledgeable former Uganda Cranes star takes over the mantle at the tax collectors’ funded side at a time the club has been coach-less after the sudden resignation of former coach, Paul “Latest” Nkata following a 7-2 loss at the hands of rivals, KCCA.
The development was confirmed by the club Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edward Kulubya on Thursday moments after the formal talks between the club directors and the coach were concluded.
Sam Ssimbwa is our new head coach for a tenure of four months for these remaining five matches until the end of the season
Ssimbwa recently resigned at Kenya Premier League outfit, Sofapaka Football Club and has been on job hunting expedition.
Moments after the resignation of Nkata, the URA management approached three coaches Mathias Lule, Jackson “Mia Mia” Mayanja and Ssimbwa.
The board convened on Wednesday for the first meeting and they zeroed on Ssimbwa and Lule.
The second board meeting of Thursday, 26th April 2018 confirmed Ssimbwa who comes to the club with a wealth of experience having previously played top flight football and won three CECAFA championships with Uganda Cranes.
He has previously coached at Express, Sports Club Villa Jogoo, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Mbale Heroes, Masaka Local Council, Health F.C, Top TV, Soana, Atraco (Rwanda), Police (Rwanda), Sports Club Victoria University, Simba, Somalia National team and lately Sofapaka (Kenya).
Ssimbwa is a CAF A licenced coach, a hands on tactician who preaches offensive football.
He will work with Hamza Kalanzi who has been assistant coach to Nkata.
Who is Sam Ssimbwa?
Sam Ssimbwa was born in 1967 to the late Prince William Blasio Nakibinge. He was an elegant and intelligent midfielder who also graduated through the ranks to the Uganda national team (Uganda Cranes) over the years.
He was versatile as he played all the positions on the football field with ease.
Ssimbwa played for three clubs: KK Cosmos (1986), KCC FC (1987-1995) and Mbale Heroes FC (1999-2000).
He has previously coached the clubs Health FC (1998), Mbale Heroes FC (1999-2000), Masaka LC FC (2001), Military Police FC (2002), KCC FC (twice 2002 & 2009), Top TV FC (2003-2004), Rwandan ATRACO FC (2006), Express F.C. (2007), Simba SC (2008), Kenyan Sofapaka F.C. (2009-2010), KCCA (2013-2014), SC Villa Jogoo (2014-2015), Soana (2016), Sofapaka (2016-2017).
Since November until December 2012 he coached the Somalia national football team. Previously he was a head coach of the SC Victoria University. Later he coached the Express F.C. and Rwandan Police F.C.
On 1 October 2014 SC Villa Jogoo appointed Ssimbwa as coach before he left to join Mike Mutebi at KCCA. He had a brief stint at Soana and later joined Sofapaka Football Club until his resignation in April 2018.
He won six won one league title with KCC (1991) and four Uganda Cup (Kakungulu) titles (1987 and 1993 with KCCA, 1999 with Mbale Heroes as coach player and 2007 with Express as head coach).
He lifted the CECAFA trophy three times in 1989, 1990 & 1992.
He never received a red card in his playing career but was dismissed from the bench on two occasions.
Ssimbwa was captain at Jinja Kaloli Primary School, Kibuli SS and KCC FC.
He holds a diploma in accountancy and is married with six children.
