In the recent seasons since the club was established in 2002, URA FC had never finished outside the top four until 2017 where we finished 9th, winning the title 4 times (in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011). It has also taken the club centuries since it last lifted a league trophy (2011) and this means there was therefore a need to remedy this unprecedented disappointment.
Amongst the many issues to solve was the C.E.O position that remained vacant in the aftermath of Ivan Kakembo’s departure from the club. The quest for a new but right figure was on.
However, like the intro aptly suggests, the disappointment from last season’s conclusion has been super and painfully not enough for us since we arguably rank amongst the best squads in Ugandan football and surely the best-coached sides as well.
We are not very far as a destination of preference for top Ugandan and foreign players. This explains our current captures given the mileage they join the club with. Bridget Nakayenga was installed in an interim capacity after the departure of Kakembo and she has ably steered our ship to stability within her limitations.
The club is however destined for new levels come next season. In reality, the fans seem thirsty for the champagne of a champion or cup winner. Our last podium celebration was the Uganda Cup victory six years ago in Mbale after edging KCCA 4-2 on penalties. This is still fresh in the minds of our fans.
The announcement of a new CEO Henry Mayeku comes in timely and as a great statement of intent by our board. There couldn’t have been a better time for this announcement as the preparations for the forthcoming 2020/2021 season remain a priority.
Mayeku is no stranger to URA Club management because he was General Secretary between 2011 and 2016 until he left, hence staying away doing private business. He has however always opened his mind to this opportunity. The business has been football-related though, he has been operating a management and scouting agency across East Africa and has brokered several deals in Kenya and Tanzania. This field experience will come in handy if at all they forge a harmonious way out with both sides of his portfolio i.e. the technical and the board.
We all know how fragile such a job can get especially in the heat of the moment at Nakawa. In his address to the media yesterday during his unveiling, Henry Mayeku highlighted quite a number of punchlines that somewhat symbolize the direction the club wants to take and the methodology to implement. First was an address to how far the club is in addressing the FIFA financial play rules and how the club is to augment their revenue streams. The transfers (promising more signings).
“We are going to have a position in our structure committed to the development of fans, identifying the fans in the Gayaza community is paramount as the club intends to shift to this location.”
He went on to emphasize and blame our struggles with support to lack of a home ground. “The club is going to build a home so just watch the space.” he went on to say. The development of grassroot talent was the last item on the agent. “We are also going to set up an academy that will be run within the structure of the senior team” he went ahead to describe this as a single development project.
The chairman, Kizza James who was attendance also went ahead to give some remarks. “Uganda Revenue Authority Football Club must be a role model club in Uganda, East Africa, and Africa. We want to be the best. For this reason, we shall continue to develop the game of football at all levels” Kizza stated.
Kizza also lauded the former URA FC CEO Ivan Kakembo and singled out his role in establishing a sound secretariat for the club. “I want to thank the former CEO who set a very strong foundation. He established a firm secretariat and it is upon which the other gains will be consolidated.” Kizza added.
The club will also be running a scouting program to ensure availability of talent and stop the inadequacies. This is something the fans will highly seek out for. He would go ahead to mention a partnership entered by the club with various schools.
The club surely needs a seamless approach to the business if they can dream of breaking both theirs and their coaches’ silverware jinx. So much for RAISING your own bar too high! With the acquisition of former KCCA FC genius Jackson Nunda, we have also acquired the services of Hannington Ssebwalunyo and hopefully more to come before the conclusion of the transfer business.