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Since the official opening of Nelson Mandela National stadium at Namboole, we have witnessed some of football's most important centre-piece matches, and it has hosted many unforgettable moments over the past 24 years.
For starters, February 7, 2023, marked 24 years since it hosted the first football game, a top-flight league match between arch-rivals SC Villa and Express FC.
However, years of dilapidation reached a point a few years ago when the stadium was unable to stand the test of time. It was closed for renovation, leaving the country with no national stadium. As the country continues to wait for the completion of the renovation, let us recap on that memorable afternoon.
LUCKY DUBE SHOW DELAYS THE HISTORICAL MATCH
The start of the 1998 top-flight league was originally planned for January 31, 1998, at Namboole but had to be postponed to fix some of the damages caused by Lucky Dube’s December 6, 1997, mega musical show which left the facility in a sorry state.
For example, locking bolts at gates were damaged, while the locker rooms and toilets were vandalized. The grass was not spared after being trampled on.
BIG GAME
Come Saturday, February 7, 1998, all was set for the mega clash between the country’s top sides, SC Villa and Express. SC Villa had already registered Namboole as its home ground.
Prior to the big do, rival fans attended training sessions of their respectable teams in big numbers with each camp vowing to carry the day. SC Villa, on its part, had shifted their training sessions from Villa Park to Namboole.
This game came at a time when both clubs had signed players from each other during the November 1997 transfer exercise. Express welcomed back Phillip Obwin who had controversially left for SC Villa and also captured Livingstone Mbabazi, Ibrahim Kizito and Andy Lule from Villa Park.
SC Villa also responded by recruiting Express midfield gem Joseph Mutyaba and key defender Geoffrey Bukohore. The tension was palpable.
The fans thronged Namboole as early as early 10 am and by 3 pm, the stadium was full to capacity. To avoid the usual violence when both teams meet, the stadium management restricted Express fans to the Southern wing while the home side were located to the Eastern wing.
Fans at the open stand paid Shs 5,000, those at the VIP wing were charged Shs 8,000 and the VVIP coughed Shs 20,000.
The match was handed to Fifa referee Arthur Bukenya who led both teams to the pitch amid drumming and cheers from all sides. This was the first game for the newly-recruited Serra Leone coach Abu Koroma of Express while veteran coach David Otti was entering his second spell as SC Villa’s tactician.
SC Villa banked on goalie Ibrahim Mugisha, Arthur Byansiima, Deo Serwadda, Geoffrey Bukohore, skipper Edgar Watson, Hassan Mubiru, Andrew Mukasa and Phillip Ssozi, among others.
On the other hand, Express put its trust in goalie Issa Bin Mungu, Sulaiman Tenywa, William Makumbi, Phillip Obwin, skipper George Ssimwogerere, James Odoch, Fred Tamale, Kassim Katumba, Robert Ojok and Ibrahim Kizito, among others.
The game started at a high tempo with each side trying to make history. It was Express’ Fred Tamale who clinched the glory when he scored the only goal in the 20th minute, sending Red Eagles fans wide with crazy celebrations which covered the entire stadium.
The rest of the match was like a chess game as each side cancelled out the other.
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