By Denis West

Smart Obedi, the eccentric moneybags owning Uganda Premier League side Soana FC is a man with an enigmatic character.

He seems to know what is ideal for the destiny of his club but in the next minute, he will be the same man to shoot it down his own endeavors to succeed.

Blame it on the fact that for long Ugandan football has been run in an amateur manner and private clubs are run in the directors’ pockets.

Rich men have the money to invest in clubs but find it hard to bequeath power to structured administrations. It can be a surprise, God forbid, that is Obedi chose to abandon investing on football, Soana becomes a defunct club like SCVU, The Saints, Spear Motors, Villa International, Victors to name but a few.

Truth be told Obedi, loves football and will literally kill to have his side stay up in the top league but sadly he is one not to heed to advice.

He should be credited for keeping Soana in the league for over four seasons now – never mind not winning any titles – but in the same vein the man from Tooro should be castigated for changing coaches like knickers!

Who hasn’t coached at Soana? Probably just a few. Football stakeholders have been slow to applaud his latest managerial acquisition – Wasswa Bbosa – for he can easily dump him before the season. Yes I mean before May next year and the stats are available to prove that.

Before Bbosa, Obedi has sought for the services of Richard Makumbi, Sam Ssimbwa, Shafiq Bisaso, Alex Isabirye, David Mutono, Charles Ayeikho name them, but none has hardly completed two seasons at Kavumba Recreation Grounds.

Has he finally learned some lessons to give Bbosa time? Probably yes, probably no. One tangible lesson he seems to have learned from the ongoing Fufa Drum provincial tourney is that people back at his home town of Fort Portal love football and has decided to switch from Kavumba to Buhinga Stadium starting next season. You can bet Soana to have a sizeable fanbase in Tooro than at Kavumba where they have been playing to an empty gallery.

Indeed every man can embrace change at last! Bbosa must be hoping Obedi has changed his damning habit of giving coaches the boot before they settle in.

 I hear he is ready to ‘give’ the liberty Bbosa to recruit his own players and dictate matters at Soana. This hasn’t been the case in the past when Obedi reportedly had a iron hand in player transfers and selecting the first team.

Many coaches who couldn’t put up with this anomaly chose to throw in the towel. Then again Bbosa’s character also leaves many questions.

He is one to have secret player dealings which may not please Obedi. His relationship with club fans, especially in low moments many times exposes his weak side – a fierce bad temper.

Let’s hope Soana fans, like Villa fans did most of the times last season, won’t brand him an Express FC mole. Lest I forget, Bbosa is one coach that will jump on the next lucrative offer – an offer no apology.For years, Soana has relied on some ‘untouchable’ players like Emma Kalyowa, Timothy Musinguzi, Willy Kavuma and Allan Kayiwa but with the immediate signings Bbosa wants to make, he seems destined to break that mentality.

It remains to be seen whether it will leave the dressing room United. Not all is doom though, Bbosa and Soana have positive indicators to start from; midfielder Willy Kavuma is one player the coach loved way back from their Express days and their reunion can only help Bbosa hit the ground running. I hate to be the prophet of doom but I’m struggling to envisage Bbosa managing at Soana for the next two years! Prove me wrong.