Masaka Recreational ground will witness a special moment on Sunday afternoon when topflight football returns as record Uganda premier league champions, SC Villa host high flying debutants Onduparaka FC.
The greater Masaka has produced some of the finest players the country has seen but the fanbase has been starved from topflight football.
This ground was once considered a fortress, sometime in the 90s, where the Jogoos built an unshakable roost, perched and pecked whichever opponent stood their way. The Blues, swept three league titles in four years since 1990 to 1994.
ChimpSport‘s Fred Mwambu caught up with one of the club legends, Paul Mukatabala, to pick his memories of the stadium that had become a haven for the Jogoos.
“That’s the ground that brings sweet memories only to SC Villa,” he starts.
“In four years there (1990-1994), we lost only two times in the league. 1990 to defunct Nsambya 0-1 and 1994 to KCC 0-1. I remember KCC celebrating like hell when they beat us there. But we had the last laugh winning the title that year.”
Masaka ground will be a battle field, not only on pitch but also off! They host Onduparaka, one club that has reignited the glory days when local football was sacred. The West Nile brigade are threatening a football coup.
1994 title decider.
The prospects of this match are more on the turnout. Could this beat the 1994 title decider? Mukatabala quickly reminds us.
“But for all the games at that stadium, nothing will ever top the 1994 title decider against Express FC.”
“Mammoth crowd for that game, nothing will ever beat that attendance at that ground for a league match. Everywhere you looked inside the stadium, it was human beings squeezing one another.”
The game lived up to the billing with lots of drama including a missed first half penalty by Express Captain George Ssemwogerere.
SC Villa went on to win the match and title with a well taken goal. Overlapping left back Simon Ssemwogerere pounced on a sleek pass from Mukatabala and powered a first time shot beyond Abu Kigenyi, Express Goalie.
“It was later dubbed a game of the ‘Good and Bad Ssemwogerere’ by the press, considering the events.
“That was Villa’s last game at the Masaka Recreation Ground,” Mukatabala recalls.
Masaka Recreational ground has delineated several other memories – associated with SC Villa.
In 1992, at the same ground, Villa humiliated their eternal nemesis, KCC FC, 5-0. Club Legend Magid Musisi Struck four in the rout as he signed off. He later joined Stade Rennes in France.
Before the match, KCC refused to use the official gate entrance to the stadium before the game, arguing that Villa had placed charms to weaken them.
KCC caused much amusement to the many fans when they opted to jump over the perimeter wall at the southern end of the stadium, to enter the ground and their changing room.
“We (Villa players) were already warming up in our dressing room and it caused much laughter and motivation to us. They didn’t survive the massacre.”
All in all, we welcome the intimidating fans and the stadium back to topflight football.