In 1974, six eminent Ugandan sports administrators and coaches pioneered a trend by traveling to Germany to witness the FIFA World Cup. Here’s how they made it happen:
Rev Polycarp Kakooza, then National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary, received an invitation from FIFA and the German Olympic Committee due to his instrumental role in forming NCS and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).
Ben ‘Big Ben’ Omoding, head coach of the national youth team, also received an invitation from FIFA and the German Olympic Committee. Omoding had previously trained as a coach in Germany and watched the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
David Otti, Uganda Cranes team manager, traveled courtesy of Adidas, the German sports apparel manufacturer, which he worked with alongside Hassan Mutaasa. Otti had featured in the 1962 Africa Cup of Nations and won regional titles with The Cranes.
Hassan Mutaasa, a former tireless midfielder, also traveled with his wife Mariam, thanks to Adidas. Mutaasa had played for Bitumastic and Coffee and later served as FUFA treasurer.
Jimmy Bakyayita Semugabi, public relations officer at Coffee Marketing Board, traveled through a German friend. Semugabi had coached Coffee FC to league and Uganda Cup titles in 1970 and 1971.
Charles Jaggwe, Express FC coach, made the trip through special arrangements with German friends. Jaggwe had played for Express FC and the Uganda national team in the 1950s and 1960s and won a league title with Express in 1974.
