Last week, Vipers SC suspended head coach Nikola Kavazovic for one week following a bitter disagreement over playing tactics during a heated club meeting.
The Serbian tactician, who missed the club’s grudge league 2-1 win over SC Villa over the weekend, is expected to report back to work tomorrow (Thursday).
In the wake of Kavazovic’s suspension, a section of football fans took to social media and predicted the coach’s ultimate sacking before his planned return date, insisting that no Vipers coach in recent history has received a suspension and then returned to his position.
I won’t delve into the specifics of Kavazovic’s suspension, but the whole scenario is reminiscent of a case from the 1980s, when SC Villa imposed severe disciplinary measures on coach George Mukasa. The SC Villa executive suspended Mukasa for one month over his actions during a league match.
HOW DID MUKASA GET INTO TROUBLE?
On August 13, 1983, SC Villa played a league match against Jinja-based Millers FC at Nakivubo Stadium. It was a must-win game for the Jogoos, who were fighting to defend the league title. On the other hand, the Millers were engaged in a relegation scrap.
During the match, Villa striker Rogers Nsubuga sustained a minor injury shortly before halftime. As he received treatment on the pitch, Mukasa seized the moment to rush to the field and give some instructions to his players.
Referee Dick Nsubuga objected to this action, and ordered Mukasa off the field. However, Mukasa refused to march off, and a battle of words ensued between the referee and the tactician. The stadium security officials stepped in as a result, and Mukasa eventually made his way back to the technical bench.
However, before the game restarted, the referee ordered Mukasa to vacate the touchline. He grudgingly complied. Both teams eventually settled for a 1-1 draw, something that did not go down well with the Villa faithful.
Mukasa’s antics annoyed SC Villa officials and club boss Patrick Kawooya in particular. The following day, the club executive sat and handed Mukasa a one-month suspension. The club then asked skipper Jimmy Kirunda to lead the team in the meantime.
OTTI COMES ON BOARD
Before his suspension, Mukasa, a former KCC and Uganda Cranes custodian, had led SC Villa to the league title unbeaten and the club was in serious contention with KCCA for the 1983 league as well as Uganda Cup titles.
SC Villa’s next game was a league match against giant killers Masaka Union at Nakivubo. In front of a boisterous crowd, Masaka Union stunned the Jogoos 4-1, with Sula Kato serving as their star player. Former Cranes defender Eddie Semwanga grabbed a brace with John Ntesibe, and John Kasula scoring the other two goals for Masaka Union. SC Villa’s consolation goal came from skipper Kirunda.
At that time, SC Villa was also preparing for the continental game against Zambia’s Nkana Red Devils (now Nkana FC). SC Villa fans pleaded with the club officials to pardon Mukasa but they refused to budge and instead hired [on a temporary arrangement] the services of David Otti, who was working as the National Council of Sports general secretary.
Just two days after Otti arrived at the Nsamizi Training Institute, where the Jogoos were camping for residential training, he bitterly disagreed with Kirunda about the team tactics. Kirunda walked out of the camp and never returned to SC Villa.
Matters were not helped when Otti’s Villa lost 0-4 to Nkana in Zambia before suffering another 1-2 loss in Kampala’s return leg. Villa fans yet again cried for Mukasa’s return.
But before he could return, Fufa slapped him a one-year ban for the same incident against Millers. Villa was now desperate and the club vehemently contested it before Fufa made a U-turn and lifted the ban.
By the time Mukasa finally returned to Villa Park on September 14, 1984 to resume his work, the club had already fallen from grace. At that time, KCCA had already declared the league winners. Nonetheless, Mukasa went on to win the Uganda Cup after eliminating Express FC, before defeating KCCA in the final.
In the aftermath, it was clear Mukasa had not healed from the humiliation of being suspended by his own club. Days later, he crossed to SC Villa’s fierce rivals, Express FC. Fast-forward to today, it remains to be seen how the Kavazovic will evolve.
