Former soccer supremo Obua is dead
IT was in Nakivubo stadium that Denis Obua shot to prominence as a talented left winger four decades ago. As fate would have it, it was on the same field that the soccer legend died.
By James Bakama
and Swalley Kenyi
IT was in Nakivubo stadium that Denis Obua shot to prominence as a talented left winger four decades ago. As fate would have it, it was on the same field that the soccer legend died.
Obua, 63 suffered a stroke at 10.30am yesterday and died as he watched fellow ex-internationals train on the same turf where decimated defence lines.
He collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby BAI Hospital.
The ex-internationals were preparing for a friendly game against Members of Parliament to raise funds for victims of Budada landslides. Obua, 63, an ex-international who featured in the Uganda Cranes in the 1970s, had reportedly complained about chest pain. A post-mortem report was not out by press time.
The retired Police officer who will be laid to rest later this week in Amolatar district, Lango, strived to make the best out of the beautiful game. He served as a player, coach and federation head and chairman of the regional body CECAFA.
His life will however always stand out as a classic case of two extremes. As a footballer, he was one of Uganda’s best talents, but as an administrator, he was probably one of the most controversial.
“I am yet to see a better player on the left flank,†noted Cranes’ longest serving captain Jimmy Kirunda. “He had a wonderful left that could do anything with the ball,†recounted Kirunda.
Obua was not only a swift dribbler, but also possessed a thunderous shot that salvaged Uganda on numerous occasions.
He was part of the Uganda side that regularly qualified for Africa’s top soccer competition- the Nations Cup finals.
Obua, a cousin to 1972 Olympic gold medallist John Akii-Bua, is also the father of Cranes utility player David Obua, URA striker Eric Obua and Kevin Obua, who turns out for secondary school giants St. Mary’s Kitende.
David Obua is currently one of the top players for Scottish Premier League side Hearts.
With such a solid standing in the game, Obua always had reason to brag that “I am football.â€
His death came shortly after receiving an invitation to the May 15-30 Kagame CECAFA Club Championship. He had also been invited to the world’s bigeest soccer show, the 2010 World Cup due in South Africa next month.
On receiving the sad news, FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa revealed that Obua was among names lined up for the Uganda Cranes steering committee for the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Tough times
But all was not rosy for Obua. His worst times were from 1998 to 2004 when he served as FUFA boss. Like most sports geniuses, Obua failed to lift his administrative abilities to the same level as his dazzling skills on the pitch.
The result was a bashing from the press. The same media, which had lifted him to the throne as a saviour from the disastrous Twaha Kakaire era, tore him to pieces.
It was in 2004 that a group of soccer activists calling themselves SOS emerged.
The group, desperate for change, caused Obua’s imprisonment for abuse of office. This was after his executive’s sacking by education and sports minister Namirembe Bitamazire.
Obua was however later released and the charges dropped.
Obua always had his battles with the media. A story is told in 1977 when then President Idi Amin, on a visit to the Cranes camp asked the players whether they had any problems.
Obua, who was unhappy with then Voice of Uganda sports editor Sammy Kateregga, told Amin that all was well except for Kateregga’s stinging reports.
“I am going to deal with him,†Amin is reported to have vowed without specifying what exactly he would do. Kateregga didn’t wait for Amin’s action, he boarded the first bus to Nairobi where he lived until Amin was deposed.
Positive aspects
But amidst all his shortcomings FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa noted that Obua was a positive man.
“Despite losing the FUFA presidency in 2004 he worked with us to forge a way forward,†Mulindwa told a press conference at FUFA House yesterday.
The federation is planning to have the body at Nakivubo stadium for public viewing before its transportation to Lango. He leaves behind 18 children, and two wives.
and Swalley Kenyi
IT was in Nakivubo stadium that Denis Obua shot to prominence as a talented left winger four decades ago. As fate would have it, it was on the same field that the soccer legend died.
Obua, 63 suffered a stroke at 10.30am yesterday and died as he watched fellow ex-internationals train on the same turf where decimated defence lines.
He collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby BAI Hospital.
The ex-internationals were preparing for a friendly game against Members of Parliament to raise funds for victims of Budada landslides. Obua, 63, an ex-international who featured in the Uganda Cranes in the 1970s, had reportedly complained about chest pain. A post-mortem report was not out by press time.
The retired Police officer who will be laid to rest later this week in Amolatar district, Lango, strived to make the best out of the beautiful game. He served as a player, coach and federation head and chairman of the regional body CECAFA.
His life will however always stand out as a classic case of two extremes. As a footballer, he was one of Uganda’s best talents, but as an administrator, he was probably one of the most controversial.
“I am yet to see a better player on the left flank,†noted Cranes’ longest serving captain Jimmy Kirunda. “He had a wonderful left that could do anything with the ball,†recounted Kirunda.
Obua was not only a swift dribbler, but also possessed a thunderous shot that salvaged Uganda on numerous occasions.
He was part of the Uganda side that regularly qualified for Africa’s top soccer competition- the Nations Cup finals.
Obua, a cousin to 1972 Olympic gold medallist John Akii-Bua, is also the father of Cranes utility player David Obua, URA striker Eric Obua and Kevin Obua, who turns out for secondary school giants St. Mary’s Kitende.
David Obua is currently one of the top players for Scottish Premier League side Hearts.
With such a solid standing in the game, Obua always had reason to brag that “I am football.â€
His death came shortly after receiving an invitation to the May 15-30 Kagame CECAFA Club Championship. He had also been invited to the world’s bigeest soccer show, the 2010 World Cup due in South Africa next month.
On receiving the sad news, FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa revealed that Obua was among names lined up for the Uganda Cranes steering committee for the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Tough times
But all was not rosy for Obua. His worst times were from 1998 to 2004 when he served as FUFA boss. Like most sports geniuses, Obua failed to lift his administrative abilities to the same level as his dazzling skills on the pitch.
The result was a bashing from the press. The same media, which had lifted him to the throne as a saviour from the disastrous Twaha Kakaire era, tore him to pieces.
It was in 2004 that a group of soccer activists calling themselves SOS emerged.
The group, desperate for change, caused Obua’s imprisonment for abuse of office. This was after his executive’s sacking by education and sports minister Namirembe Bitamazire.
Obua was however later released and the charges dropped.
Obua always had his battles with the media. A story is told in 1977 when then President Idi Amin, on a visit to the Cranes camp asked the players whether they had any problems.
Obua, who was unhappy with then Voice of Uganda sports editor Sammy Kateregga, told Amin that all was well except for Kateregga’s stinging reports.
“I am going to deal with him,†Amin is reported to have vowed without specifying what exactly he would do. Kateregga didn’t wait for Amin’s action, he boarded the first bus to Nairobi where he lived until Amin was deposed.
Positive aspects
But amidst all his shortcomings FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa noted that Obua was a positive man.
“Despite losing the FUFA presidency in 2004 he worked with us to forge a way forward,†Mulindwa told a press conference at FUFA House yesterday.
The federation is planning to have the body at Nakivubo stadium for public viewing before its transportation to Lango. He leaves behind 18 children, and two wives.