From Nakivubo Boys To ‘Mighty’ SC Villa 

SC Villa is Uganda’s leading football club, having won more laurels than all others put together.

SC Villa crowned the 2002 season with yet another record ‘Double’ (the club’s 6th) – winning the Nile Special League for the fifth year running; plus the Kakungulu (Uganda) Cup.

It was SC Villa’s 14th League title since 1982, and the 7th Kakungulu Cup win.
SC Villa had humble beginnings as Nakivubo Boys. The club was renamed Nakivubo Villa, and finally SC Villa, a.k.a. Jogoo (Big Cockerel).

SC Villa’s achievements did not come easy. The club had to break ranks with archrivals Express – and to outperform KCC.

Today there is no single local or regional trophy on which SC Villa’s name is not inscribed. The club is the most consistent on the continent, featuring in two consecutive finals of the Africa Club Championships and the CAF Cup in 1991 and 1992, respectively.

SC Villa was the first Ugandan club to clinch a local ‘Double’. That record was extended to six ‘Doubles’ in 2002.

SC Villa won promotion to the top flight in 1979 – storming the Ugandan soccer scene hitherto dominated by Express FC, Simba FC and KCC FC.

When Express was banned in 1977, KCC and Simba remained the only bulls in the kraal. Simba crumbled after 1979. But a new force — Nakivubo Boys — was born that same year.

The target in 1979 was simply to avoid relegation.

Express had also resurrected that same year. Express wanted Villa to dissolve and merge to form a new Express FC.

SC Villa officials and players rightly refused.

Former Express treasurer Patrick Kawooya (RIP) joined Nakivubo Boys in 1979, and he was elected chairman. The late George Faison Ddamulira was promoted to patron.

Other pioneer officials: Ivan ‘Guy’ Kawuma (vice chairman) and Edward Mugalu Luyimbazi (general secretary); Eriab Kamya (team manager), while Badru Kakembo was given the captaincy.

Kawooya’s strategy was to build a formidable side that would measure up to the challenges of the premier division. The club needed a new identity and higher profile. Hence the change of name from Nakivubo Boys to Nakivubo Villa.

Kawooya massively recruited players — bringing in big names such as Rogers Nsubuga, Sam Tamale, Serwambala, Sula Sentamu, Meddie Matovu, Shaban Mwinda, Fred Lukwago, Mitanda and Wasajja (both goalkeepers) Aloysius Musoke, Hajji Kalema, Rogers Semere, Kazora, Wilson Nsobya, Moses Ndaula, Godfrey Kisitu, Vincent Lubega, John Jumba, Edward Semanda, the late Edward Nansamba and Jamil Kasirye.

Kawooya then brought in City Cubs coach George Mukasa.

The following season, Kawooya went on another mass recruitment spree. He brought in Jimmy Kirunda and Davis Kamoga (KCC), Sam Mubiru (Maroons), Paul Hasule (Mbale Heroes), Ronnie Vubya (Lufula), Frank Kyazze (Coffee), Dan Lutalo and Fred Serwadda (UCB).

It was time for a new name.

The club was renamed SC Villa.

To prove the new identity was not just about name change, SC Villa won her first league title (Super 10) unbeaten in 1982.

SC Villa lost the title to KCC the following year (1983), but managed to grab the Uganda Cup (now Sportsman Kakungulu Cup) from KCC.

In 1984 the recruitment went on. That year SC Villa recaptured the league title from KCC, but KCC also recaptured the Uganda Cup from SC Villa.

But before the new season kicked off, there was a row as SC Villa sought to recruit KCC defender John Latigo. A compromise was reached, and KCC instead released youthful Ssonko to SC Villa. In turn SC Villa released Frank Kyazze to KCC.

Sula Kato (Masaka) and youthful William Nkemba also joined SC Villa around the same time. That year SC Villa separated with Coach George Mukasa who joined Express, and recruited veteran David Otti.

In 1985, SC Villa went on a recruiting spree and signed both Majid Musisi and Twaha Kivumbi from Pepsi FC. SC Villa also signed youths such as the late Simon Dambya.

The biggest catch for SC Villa was KCC’s Godfrey Kateregga. Ironically, SC Villa walked off empty-handed that year. KCC took the league while Express won the Uganda Cup.

David Otti quit.

Kawooya then brought in Timothy Ayiekoh as head coach. In 1986, Kawooya recruited Polly Ouma as head coach and Ayiekoh was relegated to assistant coach.

The duo did a commendable job and the team went on to win the first ever ‘Double’ in Uganda’s footballing history.

In 1987, SC Villa retained the league but lost the Uganda Cup to KCC.

John Kawesi and Charles Katumba from KCC joined SC Villa after a big row.

That year SC Villa won the CECAFA Club Championship for the first time.

In 1988, Kawooya recruited British coach Geoff Hudson to work with Ouma and Ayiekoh. Ouma quit to join Bell FC.

Hudson won another ‘Double’ with SC Villa.

Even then the recruitment went on. Iddi Batambuze was recruited from Nile FC; goalies Charles Ssimbwa and Michael Mukasa also came aboard.

The 1990 season saw SC Villa walk off with the league title but surrender Uganda Cup to KCC.

SC Villa then made history when they reached the finals of Africa Club Championships — despite finally losing to Tunisia’s Club Africain 6-3 on aggregate.

After missing the continental trophy SC Villa didn’t renew Hudson’s services and Ayiekoh was promoted to head coach.

In 1991, SC Villa won nothing and we went back to the drawing board.

In 1992, the club recruited midfield maestro Paul Nkata and Adam Semugabi from Express and KCC, respectively.

SC Villa took her eighth league title, but lost the Uganda Cup to Express FC.

SC Villa however made further impact on the continent by reaching the finals of the inaugural CAF Cup (Abiola Cup), losing 3-0 on aggregate to Nigeria’s Shooting Stars.

In 1993, SC Villa lost the league title to Express FC who won their first title after 18 years. KCC also grabbed her fourth Uganda Cup.

Because of poor health and other considerations, the late Mzee Kawooya was relieved of his duties as chairman and was replaced by Francisco Mugabe on December 10, 1993.

Kawooya was asked to be patron, but declined. Kawooya formed the rival Villa International along with team manager Eriab Kamya and Hajj Siraje Mbuga.

Others pioneers such as Luyimbazi, Kawuma and Bob Kabuye became part of the new executive under Francisco Mugabe.

The changes also saw Paul Hasule retire from active soccer to become assistant coach and team manager.

The internal changes didn’t stop SC Villa winning the 1994 league Title.

Express settled for the Kakungulu Cup.

Hasule left SC Villa in 1995 to coach State House, and later Simba SC.

Tushar Ruparelia became new team manager, deputised by William Nkemba and Ogen Kevin Aliro.

In 1995 SC Villa did not win any major trophy, as Express went on to win their first ever ‘Double’.

The mood at Villa Park was riotous. Some fans wanted changes. But Mugabe and company went on to build a new look SC Villa.

Otti returned to work with Timothy Ayiekoh, but quit shortly after and went to Rwanda.

Eddie Butindo was recruited to work with Ayiekoh. Ayiekoh was sacked in 1996, and Butindo was elevated to head coach. But SC Villa still won nothing that year.

Sadly too Kawooya died in 1996.

Butindo was sacked and Otti returned in 1997.

Otti, too, again failed to get the team going. After failing to win the 1997 league title, and starting 1998 badly, SC Villa sacked Otti and Hasule bounced back from Simba FC.

In 1997 SC Villa also welcomed back former officials who had defected to Villa International. Eriab Kamya and Siraje Mbuga were back at home.

The 1998 season saw Hasule, the long serving SC Villa skipper, getting the club back to winning ways.

SC Villa grabbed a historic fourth Double.

In 1999 SC Villa retained the league title but surrendered the Kakungulu Cup to Mbale Heroes.

In 2000, SC Villa bagged another Double, to put their record beyond reach of other clubs.

To boost the technical wing, SC Villa recalled Geoff Hudson as technical director, while Paul Hasule remains head coach for the 2001 season.

Both Hasule and Hudson’s contracts were however not renewed after the 2001 season. In their place SC Villa recruited Moses Basena and Yugoslav Micho Sredojevic Milutin as coach and head coach, respectively.

Both signed three-year block contracts, renewable every season.

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