Bogere Opens Up On Comparison With Mayanja, Names Best Team

Who was better between Steven Bogere and Jackson Mayanja is a debate that will probably never have a proper conclusion.

Bogere believes that the debate is “not healthy” but had a word or two which put the comparison to bed.

In an Interview with The-SportsNation, Bogere says that he was a better playmaker but Mayanja scored more goals.

Its his agility, skill and inventiveness that made Bogere a household name in Ugandan football, an attacking midfielder, who is considered by many as the most talented Uganda has ever seen.

Speaking about Mayanja’s comparison, Bogere comments:

“That debate is not healthy but if am to say something about it, Mayanja scored more goals than me, but I assisted more than he did.

“He is a junior to me because he arrived to the scene when I am retiring. He replaced me just like I replaced Philip Omondi.

“I remember Omondi was even made a nine on the National team for me to play in that attacking role.

“My main role was to make goals because I was an attacking midfielder and I did delivered to the best of my knowledge. If we are talking about making assists, I will be happy to debate.

“I remember there was a time I put down the whole defence including the goalkeeper then waited for a striker to arrive.”

I made Majidu Musisi – Bogere

Bogere, who started at Millers FC in the early 1980s, featured for Tobacco FC, Spear Motors, Nile FC but it was at SC Villa where he made a name for himself.

Bogere says that his assists made Majidu Musisi, another SC Villa and Uganda Cranes legend.

“I have a big block on Majidu Musisi and Charles Letti. I literally made them. Majidu came to limelight thanks to my assists,” Bogere adds in an interview with The-SportsNation.

“Majidu was a young boy to me, he went on an improved with time and gained experience courtesy of playing alongside us.”

How Good Was Jackson Mayanja?

Mayanja, according to many who watched him play have confessed that he was the best of his generation, as Hassan Badru Zziwa wrote years ago in The Observer.

Mayanja, while playing at El-Masry, the club fans nicknamed him ‘Mia Mia’ which relates to his 100% perfection.

He was a great midfielder, and like Bogere said, a great goalscorer as well evidenced by the fact that he was the Uganda Cranes top-scorer during the 1993 Nations Cup qualifiers when he bagged six goals.

Mayanja’s best times came at KCC where he helped the club to two league titles.

Bogere Names His Best XI

Bogere says that he is a God fearing person who says the truth, always.

He clarifies that his best XI includes the players he watched play, and the list has about two names of footballers he later managed to play alongside during the evening of their careers.

He has named Paul Ssali in goal while Eddie Ssemwanga, Sam Musenze, Tom Lwanga and Jimmy Kirunda make his back line.

Bogere comments: “You will never see anyone like Ssemwanga. The best right back. He could defend as expected and deliver going forward. He could score from anywhere once he crossed the halfway line.”

His midfield has Lucha Mathew and Moses Nsereko. “Lucha was exceptionally good. His work rate was way up there. He can only be compared to the likes of Francis Kulabiggwo.”

He has named Issa Ssekatawa and Philip Omondi as the two forwards, saying they Omondi is Uganda’s greatest ever and should not be compared to anyone.

Peter Maziga and Denis Obua (dad to David Obua) occupies the right and left wings in that order for Bogere who has assigned Peter Okee as the best coach.

He adds: “Obua had everything. And no one gas ever played that left wing like him.”

“Then I can also talk about Godfrey Kateregga, you people talk about those Cristiano Ronaldo and Zizou stopovers, Kateregga had already done them here, not to mention the feint passes. He could win the game individually.”

Bogere also mentioned players like Paul Hasule, Sam Ssimbwa and Ronald Vvubya as some of the best he played alongside in his generation.

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