Hassan ‘Figo’ Mubiru has revealed that his transfer to Express was aided by the truth that his father was a staunch fan of the Red Eagles.
Mubiru moved to Wankulukuku from rivals SC Villa in 2000 in a blockbuster transfer that shook Ugandan soccer.
The striker, who’s believed to be the best document goalscorer within the historical past of the Uganda Premier League had spent two seasons at Villa Park the place he gained each the league and Uganda Cup and helped the membership attain first Kagame Cup since 1993.
“First, earlier than becoming a member of Villa from Police, there was curiosity from a number of different golf equipment together with Express and Umeme however my dialog with Hajji Omar Mandela attracted me to the Blues,” he informed Isaac Mukasa in an interview on Real Stars Sports You Tube channel.
“I joined Villa regardless of being a childhood Express fan alongside my father and spent two seasons at Villa (1998 & 1999).
“However, my father was an Express fan and folks all the time laughed at him that his son helps their rival and that stored taunting me,” he defined.
“So, after my two years, I made a decision to hitch Express simply to fulfil my father’s dream and I’m comfortable I made him smile for taking part in for his favorite membership. It was my membership in addition to a fan.”
Nevertheless, it wasn’t a simple transfer with Mubiru explaining that Villa officers led by Mandela and Andrew Kasagga Zzimwe (RIP) supplied him the whole lot to stick with the Blues.
“They did the whole lot with each providing me a clean cheque however my coronary heart had already decided to hitch Express primarily for my father.
There had been stories that Mubiru had then pocketed 20 million Uganda Shillings from Godfrey Kiruma, the Express FC Supremo which was a document charge then however that he denies.
“Shockingly, the cash concerned within the deal was even lower than what Villa supplied me once I left Police and I’m even shy to disclose it,” he defined.
The soft-spoken centre ahead who might additionally play in any ahead place additionally revealed that he almost re-joined Villa following his two years at Express however Kirumira tricked him into signing a brand new contract.
“I had maintained contact with Hajji (Mandela) and was prepared and prepared to return to Villa. But whereas on the way in which to a Caf sport with Express, Kirumira took me to a bond in Dubai and mentioned that I ought to choose a automobile of my selection and later, gave me a contract to signal.
“I signed it hoping it was one yr however later, they amended it with out my information to 5 years which harm me and it’s the cause why I stop after one yr and moved to Rwanda’s APR. I left with a bitterly as a result of they had been dishonest.”
Mubiru additionally had one other probability to hitch Villa in 2005 however Ben Immanuel Missaga who had persuaded him after leaving APR was denied the Villa presidency.
He nonetheless holds Villa extremely in his coronary heart regardless of being a staunch Express fan and has been a part of the Red Eagles teaching workers on a number of events.
“I’ve utmost respect for Villa as a result of they fulfilled all their guarantees on my aspect. I assist Express however I really like Villa as effectively as a result of they confirmed me an excessive amount of love.”
During his time with Villa, Mubiru made arguably the deadliest partnership with Andrew Mukasa, christened the ‘Mu-Mu’ assault and earned his Uganda Cranes debut at younger age scoring twice towards Algeria within the Afcon qualifiers.
He is thought to be one of the proficient gamers to ever play the gorgeous sport in Uganda.
