Former Ugandan international Phillip Obwin enjoyed success both at SC Villa and Express FC but he has made it clear where his allegiance is.
The versatile star might have played for three stints at Express, a club where he officially started his career but he has made it clear SC Villa will always have his heart.
Obwin began his career at Mutesa II stadium, Wankulukuku while a student at Kibuli SS, won the league and cup double in 1995 and reached the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League losing to eventual winners Orlando Pirates of South Africa.
“SC Villa is the club I call home and is where my heart lies,” he revealed while speaking to journalist Andrew Mwanguhya on The Game of Life YouTube channel.
Clad in the SC Villa Blue home kit, Obwin was answering a question on which club he pays more allegiance before he expounded.
“I started supporting Villa as a child and would have started my career with Villa in the late 80s when the late coach Stephen ‘Jesus’ Mulinde spotted me but I feared. I was in S.1 at Old Kampala then.
“Then, I was playing barefooted and Villa had big names like Ronald Vvubya, the late Magid Musisi and Paul Hasule (RIP) and many others. I was young and couldn’t imagine being part of them so I refused the offer.”
Crossing path with Mulinde again
As fate would have it, the two met again 4-5 years later while Obwin played for Kibuli SS and this time round, he proposed a move to Express where David Otti was coach.
“When we met again while I was in S5 at Kibuli, he asked why I didn’t join Villa and I frankly told him I was afraid. He then told me if he can take me to Express and I said yes and that is how I ended up at Express FC,” Obwin explains.
At Express, he joined a big team with big players including Isaac Nkada, Kennedy Lubogo and George Ssimwogerere among others.
At the same time, he was signed alongside Edward Kalungi and Joseph Mutyaba and they went on to achieve success.
Swapping the red of Express for the Blue of Villa
Following his most successful at Express, Obwin the quit for his boyhood club SC Villa in a shocking move that left the red side bitter but delight for the blue corner.
Obwin explains his decision; “I was disappointed after that defeat to Orlando Pirates because we were given little money despite fans filling Nakivubo to capacity.
“When that offer from Villa came, I had to take it. It was Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela who contacted me and all we agreed, he fulfilled.”
After two seasons at Villa Park, Obwin returned to the Wankulukuku but also rejoined SC Villa for another stint under Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic where he succeeded with more trophies.
In the same interview, Obwin who later ended his career at Express in 2010 after also playing for URA and Nalubaale talks about his trials in England with Portsmouth, Villa’s infamous 22-1 win over Akol, his winner against Ghana in the 2004 Afcon qualifiers and much more.
He is currently part of the SC Villa technical wing and also works with the Nation Media Group in the delivery department.
