SC Villa at 40: Museveni to grace celebrations

By Shafik Ssenoga

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni will be the chief guest as SC Villa, Uganda’s most successful football club, marks 40 years of existence at Hotel Africana Friday (today).

During the event, former SC Villa officials and players who were involved in the club’s success will be recognised.

The officials include former boss Patrick Kawooya (RIP), another administrator Andrew Kasagga (RIP).

Another former club boss Franco Mugabe and an administrator Ahmed Omar Mandela will also be recognised.

At the celebrations dubbed Villa@40, former players who had an outstanding contribution to the team’s success will also be honoured. This category includes Paul Hasule (RIP), Majid Musisi (RIP), Andrew Mukasa, Hakim Magumba and Geoffrey Higenyi.

Villa chief Emmanuel Misagga told New Vision that Zambian Football Federation president Kalusha Bwalya, officials from Zambia’s Nkana Red Devils and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe will attend the function.

“We are not only celebrating 40 but also planning for the next 40 years,” he said.

The club boss said they had invited top football officials from other countries to talk to Villa players and motivate them.

Zambian R&B singer Mirriam Mukape – popularly known as Mampi – will lead the foreign and local artists at the function.

The function has received a sh50m offer from UBC Television.

SC Villa are 16-time record winners of the national league. They have won the Uganda Cup nine times and the CECAFA Clubs Championships on three occasions.

The Kampala-based side reached the finals of the Africa Club Championship (now the CAF Champions League and the Africa Cup Winners Cup (now CAF Confederation Cup). But the team lost the bid to bring either trophy back home.