“Coach Fred Kajoba is dead,” read a message on Monday afternoon from his long-time work partner John Billy Kiggundu in a WhatsApp forum ‘Football Classroom’ that we share.
It hit hard. I immediately called Kiggundu whose voice at the other end of the phone was trembling just like mine. A friend, a father figure and legend of the game had left the world. Ina Lillahi wa Ina Lillahi Raj’una.
Kajoba played football at the highest level with Coffee and later Simba and I vividly remember his last game.
He was in goal against SC Villa in the Kakungulu Cup (current Stanbic Uganda Cup) when they lost 2-0 with Hassan Mubiru rounding him off and literally sent him into retirement – we have always joked about this moment and he admitted that the goal showed him it was time to quit.
I also remember him between the posts when Uganda Cranes was badly beaten by Tunisia in the Afcon qualifiers.
A brilliant story teller, Kajoba once told me how in that particular game away to Tunisia opted to start a goal kick short to his defender George Ssimwogerere who under pressure played the ball out for a corner.
In response, Ssimwogerere shouted at Kajoba – “Gwe Kajo, todamu kuntandiikira mupiira’ loosely translated as “Don’t start play with me anymore.”
Another interesting story was when he was in goal for Coffee in one of the games against SC Villa – the Jogoos got a free kick just on the edge of the box.
Dead ball specialists Paul Hasule, Magid Musisi, Adam Ssemugabi all wanted to take it with each requesting he should be the one trusted with the opportunity and the plan was to shoot direct at goal.
His teammate Mugalu heard the conversation and told Kajoba of the plan. “Abasajja bateesa kukuba direct,” literally meaning they are planning to shoot direct on goal.
This scared Kajoba as whoever was on the ball had a fierce shot – Ssemugabi took it and it rattled the bar. Mugalu’s reaction as narrated by Kajoba was the winner – ‘Empagi ojiwulira!!!’
He retired from playing but not from the game as he went to the dugout coaching at Simba (now UPDF), Soltilo Bright Stars and Vipers, the national team (Uganda Cranes) where he spent over 15 years as the national goalkeeping coach and until his death, at Tanzania Premier League side, Ihefu.
One time while at Bright Stars, he told the media how the club had spent nine months without paying his salaries and wages.
One media personality reported that Kajoba owed Stars six months to which he was angry. “Nabagambye manja emyezi Mwenda (9) ate mwe mwawandiise mukaaga (6).
Kajoba, the friend
He was sociable and likeable and never held a grudge with anyone.
He was a big friend who called me often to talk about football and always referred to me as ‘number one’. It was the same name I called him and I would tell him ‘He is the number one goalkeeper coach in Africa.”
He invited me to his country home in Kiwawu along Mityana Road several times saying he wants to slaughter a goat for me and colleagues thanking us for the good work.
Just last week, he repeated same when he called saying that if I don’t come this off-season for ‘my goat’, I should never ask for it again. Sadly, he passed on before I could respond to the invite. It is tormenting.
Kajoba the winner
He won over six Cecafa titles with Uganda Cranes as the goalkeeping coach but its is helping break the 39-year jinx with an Afcon finals appearance that will forever stand out.
He was the man in charge of the goalkeepers for a long time when Denis Onyango and Uganda were hard to beat and it is during this time that the Sundowns goalie took over Africa in 2016.
He also won the league title with Vipers and the Uganda Cup with Simba.
Kajoba the talent scout
So many players, current and past wouldn’t have achieved much without the keen eye of Kajoba.
He trusted a young Ismail Watenga and has had a hand in so many goalkeepers’ careers in the country including Onyango, Robert Odongkara, James Alitho, Hamza Muwonge, Jamal Salim and many more.
He unearthed Khalid Aucho at a young age when he played him at Simba and also ensured he got a chance at the national team where he has starred for over 10 years now.
Kajoba, the staunch Catholic
He was never shy of professing his Catholicism and a rosary was part of him always.
He believed in Mother Mary and often carried a statue of her with him especially at Uganda Cranes matches.
In fact, for his strong faith, he was at one time kicked out of Cranes camp during the Covid19 pandemic when he left his hotel room to go for prayers at a nearby church.
He never regretted his actions insisting he didn’t have to ask for permission to go pray.
Talking about Kajoba can never end, for now, we can only pray that his soul rests in eternal peace. Till we meet again ‘Number One’
May his soul rest in peace.
Till we meet again