Philip Obwiny On Why Express, Villa Are Still Struggling

Former Uganda Cranes player Philip Obwiny has explained why sleeping giants Express FC and SC Villa are still struggling.

Express and SC Villa share the lion’s share in Ugandan Football not only in fans base but also in achievements.

However, the two old rivals have spent the last two seasons fighting to survive relegation.

Obwiny, one of the countries most versatile and talented players ever seen, revealed that Express and SC Villa have themselves to blame for operating outside their known norms and intentional failure to invest.

Obwiny who played for SC Villa and Express FC as a defender also had stints with Nalubaale and URA FC.

And when he speaks, we just sit and listen because he has earned the right.

Making his debut as a TV analyst on NTV’s famous lunchtime sports show Omumuli on Wednesday hosted by Elvis Senono, the former player revealed:

“Express and Villa are nolonger doing things that put them to the top back in the days. Calling for trials in preseason is not a thing for a big club. Anyway, at least, back in our days, there was quality in the players and coach Nyola repeatedly told us that his work is to guide us through fitness drills only which is no longer the case these days where a coach must teach a player how to cross or pass.

“Express and Villa are now becoming academies, they are just selling their best to teams like KCCA FC and Vipers SC. They don’t want to spend on players which is still costing them.”

Obwiny studied at Shimon, Old Kampala and Nakawa institute. He joined Express FC in the early 90s when he was still a student at Old Kampala.

“I was still a very young lad,” recalls Obwiny. “But the good thing about me then is that I was uusing both legs and that helped me to be versatile which made me breakthrough easily.”

“During our time, we had discipline on and off the pitch and the players then had individual brilliance and consistency.”

“Matchday used to be very different, there were various ceremonies in town prior to the game. It used to be an honour to put on a VEK (Villa, Express, KCC FC) shirt.”

“I have no problem with Sim (George Ssimwogerere, Express FC coach). Its ok to rebuild. But will the club be patient enough to give him like three years when results are not coming?”

It should be noted that Obwiny, an Itesot, was born in 1974 in Jinja to the late Sebastian Emojong and Teopista Nyabur.

Obwiny Questions URA’s Transfer Business

When asked to comment about how far URA will go this season, the former player said:

“URA can compete, it’s just that they lost to a team (Wakiso Giants) with better and experienced players like Tom Masiko, Karim Ndugwa, Geoffrey Sserunkuma and Hakim Ssenkumba.”

“My only worry is that they bought many players, so they all but have a new team. The other big problem is that they did not buy what they needed in the market – the striking department.

“The good thing is that they managed to retain some of their best players – Shafic Kagimu and Saidi Kyeyune – that helped them finish third last season.

“But it was evident that their problem was scoring goals and I feel that its not a department they improved as expected. Their goals come from the midfield, they must have a typical striker to create the difference.

“They have the money, they would have bought quality not quantity. This is football where Success comes with investment.”

On KCCA FC, he commended the work done by Coach Mike Mutebi and the organisation at large at Lugogo.”

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