Gone are the days when VEK clubs occupied the top three positions of the Uganda super league. Every player’s dream was to play for one of these three clubs and they had the upper hand over other super league clubs when it came to signing the crème de la crème of the league. Amongst them, they have won more league and Uganda cups than all other clubs combined.
These clubs command the strongest fan base nation wide and their strength implies more fans filling the stadiums. I was impressed last week when the top leaders of these clubs Fred Muwema ( SC Villa ), Aldrine Nsubuga ( KCC ) and Kavuma Kabenge (Express) called a press conference at Villa house in Muyenga in order to revive VEK. This is a move I have longed for in the past years. We need competition in our league and this should be pioneered by VEK. Gone are the days when a match between Villa and Express would gross over 40 million shillings as fans of both sides would fill their seats to back their team not only to win the match but also leave with bragging rights and such games would be the talk of the town a week before and after.
The city could be painted red ( Express ), Blue ( SC Villa ) or Yellow ( KCC ) and this was enough to tell you how passionate the people were about their clubs. People like Ssewanyana aka Uncle money and Luba kyoya loved Express fF.C to the extent that the nation believed their life depended on football. The crowds of that era were riotous but that only depicted the passion in them. Players used to play their hearts out in such derbies and thus die a little for their clubs.
I will never forget the 2003 CECAFA semi final match at Nakivubo between Villa and Express where the former won 2-1 courtesy of first half strikes from Congolese import Ekuchu Kasongo and wing wizard Phillip Ssozi with Express’ consolation goal netted by Henry Kakooza whose record against the blues was so impressive. The match was watched by thousands of fans who filled the stadium to capacity.
These clubs boasted the best talents on the land. SC.VILLA had the likes of Ssozi, Mukasa, Magumba, Kabagambe, Tumusiime, Kadogo, Hasule, Nkemba, Musisi, Bogere and Edgar Watson among others. EXPRESS boasted of Aloro, Tamale, Obwiny, Ssemwogerere, Bana Zidane, Malinga, Odoch, Obua, Mubiru and Sunguti ( also had a stint at villa park ). KCC F.C had Jackson Mayanja, Ssimbwa, Kyambadde, Ssekajja, Sserunkuma, Musiika and Said Abed ( also had a stint at villa park ).
I don’t intend to demean other clubs but like Man.utd, Liver pool, Arsenal and Chelsea in England, Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid in Spain, Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan in Italy, Dortmund and Bayern Munchen in German, we need a strong VEK if our league is to regain its past glory when it attracted foreign players and coaches from the cecafa region. Who does not remember how the likes of Bana Zidane, Said Abed, Maurice Sunguti, Tote Songe, Bernad Mwalala, Charles Kayimba, Kudra Rashid and most recently Oscar Kadenge lit up our league. This was all attributed to the strength of VEK. Coaches like Eddy May, Mitcho Sredejovich, Geof Hudson, Abou Koroma and Rashid Kheri all show cased their skills in Uganda because of a strong VEK. VEK clubs, its high time you went back to the drawing board to light up our dull league.
