After an illustrious 22-year coaching spell, Sam Bamweyana Ssimbwa’s career now lies in total jeopardy – with the Fufa 8-month ban providing the final blow.
The eccentric coach, who was suspended by KCCA immediately after an audio tape with his alleged voice claiming to bribe referees to get positive results, leaked to the media in December, received the career-shattering Fufa verdict yesterday.
The statement form Fufa read: “The Adjudicatory Chamber of the Fufa Ethics and Integrity Committee chaired by William Byansi has banned Mr Bamweyana Sam Ssimbwa – former KCCA FC coach from all football related activities (administrative, sports or any other) for 8 months for possible violation of Fufa Regulations when he conducted himself in an unethical manner and uttered statements that jeopardised the authenticity of results and integrity of matches.”
Ssimbwa, who was given 10 days to appeal, told Daily Monitor that he was not in position to comment on the matter. Similarly, KCCA chairman Julius Kabugo declined to state the club’s move.
Insiders at Lugogo however intimated to Daily Monitor that a haste management meeting was in the offering to decide on Ssimbwa’s fate.
The source added that considering the club is working on the mammoth Shs2.5bn sponsorships from StarTimes and Prime Media, the pressure is on KCCA board members to terminate Ssimbwa’s contract – ostensibly to save image.
In the leaked audio, a voice similar to Ssimbwa’s is heard involving in a bitter altercation with rowdy fans before eventually telling them that for the love of football, he can use his own money to buy games results.
Ssimbwa at a glance
Ushered in at a ceremonious occasion at City Hall in June last year, tongues wagged as many questioned whether Ssimbwa could finish a year as Mike Mutebi’s deputy.
By the time he was laid off, with his salary reportedly halved, Ssimbwa and Mutebi had guided KCCA to the league summit by the end of first round. In a recent interview with Daily Monitor, Ssimbwa decried the forlorn life he was now living in suspension and maintained he was innocent.
Ssimbwa the journeyman
The former KCCA and Uganda Cranes dribbling midfielder, if sacked, would have coached at his 15 club in 22 years.
He has managed at Health FC (1998), Mbale Heroes FC (1999-2000), Masaka LC FC (2001), Military Police FC (2002), KCCA FC (twice 2002 & 2009), Top TV FC (2003-2004), Rwandan ATRACO FC (2006), Express FC. (2007), Simba SC (2008) and Kenyan Sofapaka FC. (2009-2010), Somalia national football team, SCVU, Express FC, Police FC (Rwanda)SC Villa. He has also been linked to a move back to Simba FC during his forced sabbatical.
In Ssimbwa’s absence, Mutebi has taken KCCA to the brink of the Uganda Premier League title.
