How SC Villa won the 2005 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Tanzania

SC Villa return to the CECAFA Kagame Cup for the first time in over 19 years.

The Jogoos, three-time winners are back in the tournament on Tanzania land where they lifted their last regional title.

Back in 2005, the 17-time record Ugandan champions won the Kagame Cup not only unbeaten but also without conceding a goal under the stewardship of the late Sam Timbe (RIP).

As they go back to Tanzania where they are in Group C alongside Rwanda’s APR, South Sudan’s Al Merriekh Bentiu and Tanzania’s Singinda Black Stars, Ismael Kiyonga revisits the story of Mwanza and how Villa lifted the title.

Group A

Let’s get started. SC Villa was drawn in group A that had Rwanda’s Rayon Sport FC, Tanzania’s Simba SC, Atletico FC of Burundi and Somalia’s Elman FC.

The Group Matches

23^rd/04/2005: SC Villa 1-0 Simba SC

Sam Timbe’s side began their journey to the championship with a 1-0 win of Tanzania’s Simba SC. Kenyan import Bernard Mwalala’s 19^th minute strike was enough to lift Villa.

The result was reminiscent of the 2003 final in which another foreign import in Tanzania’s Tendwa Vicent struck for Villa to beat Simba SC at Namboole under Serbian Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic. 25^th/04/2005:  SC Villa 5-0 Elman FC

The Jogoos went rampant in their second game of the group hitting Somalian champions Elman for dead.

Benard Mwalala was on a hat trick scoring in the 11^th, 23^rd and 76^th minutes while Robert Ssentongo and Samadu Mutumba added the two goals to move top of Group A.

29^th/04/2005: SC Villa 0-0 Rayon Sport

The result ended Villa’s perfect run but the positive from the game was the clean sheet thanks to Denis Onyango between the posts and the rear guard under the command of then skipper Andrew Mwesigwa.

01^st /05/2005: Atletico FC 0-2 SC Villa

It was the club’s last group game and a win ensured that Sam Timbe’s side finished as group A leaders on 10 points and 8 goals against none.

Midfielder Emma Balyejusa and diminutive striker Robert Ssentongo netted for the Uganda side.

Finishing top in Group A meant SC Villa was to face second placed Mtibwa Sugar in Group B behind APR FC from Rwanda. Other sides in that group were Al Hilal from Sudan, Adulis of Eritrea and Djibouti’s Total FC.

Semifinal

04^th/05/2005: SC Villa 1-0 Mtibwa Sugar

The match winning goal was a beautiful header from striker Ceaser Ssempijja after an hour of play.

The strongly built forward put the ball home following Dan Wagaluka’s perfect cross from the right to the jubilation of the blues’ fans that had travelled all the way from Kampala.

A day later, Rwanda’s derby between APR FC and Rayon sport ended in the former’s victory winning 4-3 on spot kicks after 120 minutes of 1-1 draw.

Manfred Kizito (brother to Nestroy Kizito) netted for APR FC after 44 minutes before Abubaker Tabula’s 84^th minute own goal put the game level.

The Finals: 08^th/05/2005: SC Villa 3-0 APR FC

It was more of Ugandan affair as the Rwandan side had the likes of Alimansi Kadogo, Abubaker Tabula, Phillip Ssozi plus Manfred Kizito and James Kayimba, all former Villa players.

On paper, the Kagame bankrolled side was stronger than SC Villa but the tides turned on D-day with Sam Timbe’s side comfortably thrashing APR FC 3-0 in the finals.

Robert Ssentongo opened the scoring in the 44^th minute before Bernard Mwalala’s brace (52^nd and 90^th minute) sealed the victory.

In the end, it was SC Villa being deservingly declared champions. The blues won everything from the title, golden boot (Mwalala 6 goals), golden gloves (Denis Onyango), best defender (Andrew Mwesigwa) and Coach of the tournament in Sam Timbe.

It was the first time a side had won the regional bragging rights without conceding and that record still stands.SC VILLA line up Vs APR FC: Denis Onyango (GK), Simeone Masaba, Godfrey Katerega, Samad Mutumba, Andrew Mwesigwa, Emma Balyejusa, Steven Nsereko, Morley Byekwaso (Hakim Magumba), Bernard Mwalala, Robert Ssentogo (Ceaser Ssempijja) and Dan Wagaluka.

COACH: Sam Timbe

APR FC line up Vs Villa. Ndiziye Aume (GK), Didier Bizimana, James Kayimba, Titus Mulama, Loman Ahore (Phillip Ssozi), Hamis Yusuf, Elias Ntaganda, Bobo Bola, George Waweru (Manfred Kizito), Alimansi Kadogo (Abdu Sibomana).

Coach: Jacob Ghost Mulee

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