No rush": Sseninde dreams of CAF Champions League with Red Ants

Three years ago, Jean Sseninde decided it was time for the Red Ants to join league football.

To be precise, the name is Jean Sseninde Red Ants Football Club. And as club names go, that is audacious, and some may even say megalomanic. In reality, it is just a reflection of how deeply passionate Sseninde is about football.

That passion was on display Saturday as the inaugural Jean Sseninde Red Ants Awards dinner rolled out at the Sseninde Estate. For a team in the fifth division to hold an awards dinner is the definition of making a statement. And consider the dignitaries who were in attendance.

The political wing included chief guest and minister of state for labour, employment, and industrial relations Simon Mulongo and, obviously, Jean's parents, Rosemary and Zephaniah. Then you had football royalty in the form of reigning Uganda Premier League star Abdul Karim Watambala and KCCA star Gavin Kizito. From FUFA, there was First Vice President Taibu Azah and FUFA Technical Director Bashir Mutyaba.

Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put with the players

It was this calibre of personalities that joined the Red Ants to celebrate their promotion to the FUFA fifth division after a season marked by early hardship. The Red Ants lost eight games in a row at the beginning of the season. In the end, they turned it around to gain promotion to the fifth tier.

"Today we are celebrating this team because we had a rough season at the beginning, but we ended up very well," said Sseninde. "So, we deserve to come here and celebrate because it is not easy to achieve something. We achieved all our season goals, and why not celebrate that? It is not every day you get that opportunity to celebrate.

The football club is the latest football adventure for Sseninde, who played club football in the UK and represented the national team in her playing days. Both her parents reflected on how hard they tried to stop Sseninde from playing the sport.

"I didn't want her to play football," admitted the mother, Rosemary. "I regret that."

The father explained, "This issue caused a war in the family."

The daughter won it and went to chase her dreams. She is still dreaming, and this one is probably the biggest she has had yet.

"Probably FIFA World Cup Championship and also CAF Champions League," she answers when asked where she dreams of taking the club one day.

Really? Can it be done? In one lifetime?

"No rush," she responds. "It is about doing the right things, and when the results come, then we are happy. If we do the right things, the results will come. Our target is to do the right things and have the right values, to develop a DNA as the Red Ants. We want our players to have a winning mentality, for the players to know about time management and effective communication."

Put had a few words of advice on top of the compliments, obviously.

The Cranes coach put it this way, "I hope that a lot of grassroots in Uganda will take a leaf from this initiative. Congratulations to the owners of this academy and also to the team management. The message I have for the players is quite simple.

“As a footballer, you have a dream to become a professional, but you have to start somewhere, and if you are a player who starts in the fourth or fifth division, it doesn't matter. Hard work will always give you results. A lot of the players at the World Cup started in the fourth division, but because of hard work, they realized where they are now. I congratulate these players who are doing their very best, and I hope to see them very soon in the Uganda Cranes.

It's costly

Obviously, it takes a lot. Emotionally and financially.

“Even at this level, the investment is huge, and it's hectic, but I mean, we can dream, and if we do the right things, we will get sponsors on board, and also as long as the players get the experience we are looking for.

“We started from scratch. So, you can imagine starting at the lowest level, but at the end of the day, I’m glad about everything we are going through because I have learned a lot about Ugandan football and also football at the grassroots. At the end of the day, when we come to celebrate now, it is like everything is so worth it because the hardships are there. I mean the investment is more than you can imagine. I ask, if it is a lot at the grassroots, what are we going to do when we get to the Uganda Premier League?

That does not mean she has any regrets.

"I have enjoyed the journey. I have loved the chaos, the (poor) pitches. You know, at the end of the day it is about the journey and the experiences you go through because that is what life is all about."

Put differently, why go through all this, Sseninde?

"Coz, I love it. I love football. Everybody has to do something in life that challenges them. I feel happy.”

Red Ants Awards

Breakthrough Award

Winner: Mahmud Hafizu

Most Improved Player

Winner: Kalule Reagan

Club Values Award

Winner: Odhiambo Ivan

Twelfth Man of the Year

Winner: Wakubirwa Alex

Iron Man Award

Winner: Oniala Louis

Top Scorer Award

Winner: Magembe Eclas

Goal of the Season

Winner: Ssebuliba Keith

Season Impact Award

Winner: Magembe Eclas

Special Club Recognition – 40 Club Goals

Winner: David Onyango

Players' Player of the Year

Winner: Ssebuliba Keith

Most Valuable Player (Player of the Year)

Ssebuliba Keith