When Express got nicknamed 504

A few days ago, Express FC suffered a humiliating 1-6 defeat to Police FC, a result that sparked off chaotic scenes in the aftermath.

Angry Express fans attacked George Ssimwogerere, the club coach, forcing him to hide for some time until tempers cooled. What made the loss more painful is the fact that just five days prior, the club lost 0-2 away to unheralded Busoga United.

In fact it is reported that management gave, Sim, as he is popularly known, just one game [against Proline] to redeem his job and luckily, he did so in style with a 3-0 win. The Proline result came with a sigh of relief for the Red Eagles fans, who had started to face taunts of ‘504,’ which is etched into the club history as one of the darkest periods.

504 came about during the 1983 football season when Express FC was a highly-feared side unlike today. Back then, Express had recruited massively after acquiring the services of Jack Ntale, Frank Lukomwa, James Nkoyoyo, Paul Kayongo, Phillip Musoke and George Sserunjogi.

The club stable already had established names such as Issa ‘Golden Boy’ Sekatawa, Fred Mukasa, Jimmy Muguwa, Patrick Kigongo, Steven Segujja and Paul Nkata among others.

So, there were high expectations for The Red Eagles to win the league. In the build-up to the season kick-off, Express fans were so confident of their team that they made a big banner and placed it at the Ki-russia stand of Nakivubo stadium with inscription ‘Laba Omusana’ which means ‘See the light.’ It was meant to taunt rival fans to join Express.

And as fate would have it, their opening match of the season on February 9, 1983 pitted Express against KCC in a match that was widely seen as symbol of shift of power because the latter’s major signings were actually rejects of the former. These include Billy Mabirizi and Joseph Mulego plus Isaac Epete from Coffee and Frank Kyazze from SC Villa.

Express, under the guidance of coach Henry Buyego, went into business early and scored an early goal through Sekatawa but a few minutes later, Sam Mugambe equalized for KCC. After the break, Peter Mazinga silenced Nakivubo when he put KCC ahead and minutes later, Nkoyoyo soured Express’ day by conceding an own goal.

Still, Express faithful remained hopeful but when Phillip Omondi added two final nails in the Express coffin to make it 5-1, the disappointment turned into anger for Express fans.

Knowing the sack was imminent, Buyego assured everyone who cared to listen that the KCC result was an ‘accident.’ A week later, Express took on Nytil in Jinja but the hostile environment and the rugged ground meant both teams settled for a goalless draw.

Buyego knew his job was on the line but yet again he assured fans that his team didn’t play their hearts out because their focus and motivation was on the next game against SC Villa, their noisy former feeder club.

Prior to the February 16 game, what started as a simple joke gained momentum in the football fraternity. Apparently, some rival Express fans compared their 1-5 loss to the goalless draw and challenged Villa to complete the puzzle by scoring four goals to make it 504 for Express.

At the time, 504 was a popular Peugeot vehicle in Kampala and Masaka. Still, that talk remained under the radar when Express took to the field against SC Villa at a fully-packed Nakivubo stadium. But to the shock of many Express fans, their team didn’t put up a fight as Villa went on rampage with goals from Moses Ndaula (2), Davis Kamoga and Sunday Mokili for the 4-0 result.

To add salt into injury, a section of Villa fans started chanting 504, much to the chagrin of Express supporters, who in turn turned the blame on the underperforming players and chased them from the club. 

hbzziwa@observer.ug

The author is The Observer operations director.