When fans clashed with irate Tanzanian soldiers

If there is something this lockdown has helped me, it is to reawaken my memory of the sporting incidents that rhyme with today’s situation.

Currently, there is a brewing disdain for foreign truck drivers – especially those from Tanzania – on grounds that they are bringing the Covid-19 to Uganda.

For one, this has brought back the memories of 1979 when, in an unexpected twist of events, Ugandan football fans and players suffered the wrath of Tanzanian soldiers after a bizarre football match at Nakivubo stadium. This left many seething and demanding for the quick withdrawal of Tanzanians from Uganda.

Long before that infamous afternoon in 1974, Kampala mayor Walusimbi Mpanga had initiated the Mayor’s Cup in 1975 as an annual one-off contest between Express FC and KCCA FC. Mpanga, who was also the KCCA patron, sought to bring fans and administrators of the two clubs closer but what was supposed to be a friendly game became an extension of rivalry between the two teams when Express beat KCC and won the maiden title.

The Red Eagles retained the Cup in 1976 after beating KCCA 2-1 but as the eagerly anticipated showdown of 1977 edged close, government banned Express.

It took the charge of government in 1979 for the Cup to return on the football schedule and in a bid to reignite interest among fans, the finale was expanded to include two more teams.

Organizers thought it was prudent to include a Tanzanian side given that Tanzanian forces had played a pivotal role in the change of government and they basically controlled the city security, including the 8pm curfew they imposed.

That is how Dar es Salaam-based Young Africans (Yanga) was invited along with Jinja- based Nile FC. To most observers, Yanga and Nile were steppingstones to the KCCA-Express grudge match but it took many by surprise when Yanga eliminated KCCA.

To compound matters, Nile also edged Express later in the afternoon at Nakivubo stadium to set up an unlikely final. However, what was supposed to be an anti-climax gained a lot of hype when some Tanzanian soldiers in the stadium continually mocked Ugandan fans that they are too weak, unskilled and lack determination to fight.

They even vowed that a foreigner [Yanga] is teaching Ugandans how to play football and will take the trophy. This stirred up anti-Tanzania sentiments and as fans of both KCCA and Express left the stadium crestfallen, they somehow united to return for the final to support Nile to disprove the Tanzanian myth of superiority.

Come D-day, Nakivubo was filled as Ugandans rooted for Nile but the Tanzanian soldiers also turned out in big numbers to support their countrymen.

Nile dominated the first half, but the first spark of chaos emerged when fans started cheering every pass made by Nile players. This annoyed the Tanzanian soldiers and the tension reached fever pitch when Elias Wapicho fired Nile into the lead midway through the second half.

That was the cue for opening the pandora box because during celebrations, Tanzanian soldiers descended on fans sitting at the Kisenyi wing and beat them up with batons for being ‘rowdy.’

Other fans retaliated by throwing stones at the Tanzanian soldiers and within seconds, the mayhem had extended to other parts of the stadium and the sound of gunshots sent everyone to flee to the exit. Scores were injured in the stampede and even Nile players on the pitch were also roughed up.

Surprisingly, the few Ugandan soldiers (UNLA) simply looked on. With the stadium now almost empty, Nile players, many of whom were badly injured, were unwilling to continue with the game. So, the Tanzanian soldiers handed the trophy to Yanga.

However, little did I know that the chaos had also extended outside the stadium. The taxi parks were deserted. Shortly afterwards, I heard an announcement through the stadium loudspeakers that an immediate curfew had been imposed in the city and anyone found loitering was to face kiboko.

This was about 5:30pm and there were no means to leave the city centre. I walked in a group with other journalists, arms raised. We encountered several running battles between Tanzanian soldiers and fans up to Wandegeya.

Normalcy did not return until the next morning, but this was a day to forget. Incidentally, the chaos also turned out to be the death of the Mayor’s Cup because it has never been played again.

bzziwa@observer.ug