Hearts’ Obua will miss dad’s burial
May 05, 2010
BURIAL arrangements for fallen football legend Dennis Obua hit a snag yesterday with uncertainty about the day of burial, and if his most famous son David Obua will attend.
By James Bakama,
Douglas Mazune,
Norman.Katende
and Reuben Olita
BURIAL arrangements for fallen football legend Dennis Obua hit a snag yesterday with uncertainty about the day of burial, and if his most famous son David Obua will attend.
The burial had tentatively been set for Sunday in Akol Village, Amolatar district, but according to reports culture does not allow.
Charles Akora, a relative who spoke for the family yesterday, said they were yet to get any communication from the Scotland based David who plays for Premier League side Hearts.
Sources close to David say the player will not be able to travel this week because of a groin surgery he is supposed to undergo on Monday.
On Saturday he scored an 89th minute winner in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, home of arch rivals Hibernian. Hearts won 2-1.
Akora however insisted that the Cranes winger was, together with five other family members abroad, still expected by Friday. Amongst these, is the deceased’s first born daughter Judith, a medical doctor in the US. They are all expected to attend church service at 9.00am tomorrow at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero. Public viewing of the body will follow at Nakivubo stadium then later for a night vigil in Ntinda.
CAF and CECAFA mourn
Continental soccer governing body CAF has hailed Dennis Obua. In a condolence message sent through CECAFA chairman, Leodegar Tenga, CAF president Issa Hayatou lauded the role Obua played in revamping the standards of the game in the region.
FIFA regional representative Ashford Mamelodi, Rwanda and Tanzania and US based ex-international Patrick Kabuye have also sent messages.
Obua collapsed on Tuesday as he watched fellow ex-internationals train at Nakivubo for a friendly match against Members of Parliament. He is suspected to have succumbed to heart failure and was declared dead by doctors at Bai Clinic where he was rushed to.
The match he was looking forward to did go ahead yeserday, with the Ex- internationals winning 7-0.
Fans had turned up at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, to view the remains of the former CECAFA and FUFA head. However they left dissapointed as a new programme for its viewing was revealed.
It had earlier been indicated that Obua’s remains would be put to public viewing before the match, forcing many fans to travel to Namboole.
In the game, Jackson Mayanja scored a hat trick, Issa Sekatawa a brace and Paul Mutakabala and Joseph Mutyaba a goal each as they ran over the MPS.
Obua’s legacy
Obua had maintained a passion for the game even years after he was no longer active.
That he even died watching colleagues train tells it all.
He encouraged his sons, who have also exhibited skill with the left foot, like their father, to play the game.
Hearts’ David is a key player for the Uganda Cranes and there are indicators that his sibling Eric, 22, will make the national squad if he maintains his form.
Optimists are already pointing at Kevin Obua, a student at St. Mary’s SS Kitende, as another Cranes prospect.
Even at the time he had administrative differences with current FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa, Obua’s children Eric and Kevin went to Kitende that is owned Mulindwa.
FUFA has offered sh9m to to assist in the funeral. This follows a sh1m offer to the family by Mulindwa.
That the majority of the late’s 18 children are boys means Uganda is yet is count the last of Obua’s off-springs that will excel in soccer.
The little ones could live up to the expectations of sons of a football icon who rocked the country with his left foot.
Like in any other family where interests differ –– another son James Obua opted for javelin.
Douglas Mazune,
Norman.Katende
and Reuben Olita
BURIAL arrangements for fallen football legend Dennis Obua hit a snag yesterday with uncertainty about the day of burial, and if his most famous son David Obua will attend.
The burial had tentatively been set for Sunday in Akol Village, Amolatar district, but according to reports culture does not allow.
Charles Akora, a relative who spoke for the family yesterday, said they were yet to get any communication from the Scotland based David who plays for Premier League side Hearts.
Sources close to David say the player will not be able to travel this week because of a groin surgery he is supposed to undergo on Monday.
On Saturday he scored an 89th minute winner in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, home of arch rivals Hibernian. Hearts won 2-1.
Akora however insisted that the Cranes winger was, together with five other family members abroad, still expected by Friday. Amongst these, is the deceased’s first born daughter Judith, a medical doctor in the US. They are all expected to attend church service at 9.00am tomorrow at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero. Public viewing of the body will follow at Nakivubo stadium then later for a night vigil in Ntinda.
CAF and CECAFA mourn
Continental soccer governing body CAF has hailed Dennis Obua. In a condolence message sent through CECAFA chairman, Leodegar Tenga, CAF president Issa Hayatou lauded the role Obua played in revamping the standards of the game in the region.
FIFA regional representative Ashford Mamelodi, Rwanda and Tanzania and US based ex-international Patrick Kabuye have also sent messages.
Obua collapsed on Tuesday as he watched fellow ex-internationals train at Nakivubo for a friendly match against Members of Parliament. He is suspected to have succumbed to heart failure and was declared dead by doctors at Bai Clinic where he was rushed to.
The match he was looking forward to did go ahead yeserday, with the Ex- internationals winning 7-0.
Fans had turned up at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, to view the remains of the former CECAFA and FUFA head. However they left dissapointed as a new programme for its viewing was revealed.
It had earlier been indicated that Obua’s remains would be put to public viewing before the match, forcing many fans to travel to Namboole.
In the game, Jackson Mayanja scored a hat trick, Issa Sekatawa a brace and Paul Mutakabala and Joseph Mutyaba a goal each as they ran over the MPS.
Obua’s legacy
Obua had maintained a passion for the game even years after he was no longer active.
That he even died watching colleagues train tells it all.
He encouraged his sons, who have also exhibited skill with the left foot, like their father, to play the game.
Hearts’ David is a key player for the Uganda Cranes and there are indicators that his sibling Eric, 22, will make the national squad if he maintains his form.
Optimists are already pointing at Kevin Obua, a student at St. Mary’s SS Kitende, as another Cranes prospect.
Even at the time he had administrative differences with current FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa, Obua’s children Eric and Kevin went to Kitende that is owned Mulindwa.
FUFA has offered sh9m to to assist in the funeral. This follows a sh1m offer to the family by Mulindwa.
That the majority of the late’s 18 children are boys means Uganda is yet is count the last of Obua’s off-springs that will excel in soccer.
The little ones could live up to the expectations of sons of a football icon who rocked the country with his left foot.
Like in any other family where interests differ –– another son James Obua opted for javelin.