The other day, a friend of mine I haven’t heard from in a while decided to fix time off her busy schedule and sound me out. Excited she was catching up, she dropped the bomb. It wasn’t about our friendship revisiting its archives; she wanted some help with pronunciation. The word? ONDUPARAKA.
Just to let you in, Onduparaka is a football club based in West Nile, which recently got promoted to the top division of Ugandan football. Unfortunately, it’s how to spell and pronounce the club’s name that has been the bigger headliner and not the football achievement. For example, I’ve deliberately misspelt it in my headline by adding an extra “n” but I’m sure few gave it a second look. It’s understandable. It’s new to many in the south of the north.
Over the years, the regional representation in the Uganda Premier League has been “unfair” with the evidence suggesting teams from Central and the East have dominated the logs for a while. Being from the West myself, I vividly remember the excitement some our teams like Mbarara United, Biharwe FC, Horizon or even Lyantonde (which later became URA FC) brought the region.
A match day involving teams from Kampala was quite a ceremony in the West. When popular sides like Villa, Express or KCCA came to Kakyeka stadium, you could feel how proud the natives felt. In Kampala, you would have to wait for a Mbarara Utd fixture at Nakivubo to be sure of meeting most long-lost relatives and friends from the west in the stands. More like a family gathering really. Having a team from your area is a big deal.
That leaves you in no doubt Onduparaka’s promotion will come as great news to our mates in the north. I can imagine the atmosphere around the Green Light Discovery Arena or the streets of Arua town on matchdays—especially when the big dogs are in town. To this, factor in benefits like inspiring an entire generation of youngsters and having the locals have a team they call their own. It’s a big deal.
What’s even more interesting is Onduparaka comes with lots of promise. They could, I think they will, claim many scalps. Since the district and region was last represented by sides like Arua Central, Ediofe Hills and Boroboro, the football fans now will look to a side that has have already grabbed the headlines on various levels. The Uganda Cranes were beaten by a West Nile select side during the “Namutima” tour with a good bulk of those players registered with Onduparaka. Recently this club eliminated Uganda’s most successful side, SC Villa, from the Uganda Cup. They know they can compete.
Plus they are managed by a man, Allan Kabonge, who recently bragged; “I am the messiah of Uganda’s football.” Some will call it arrogance, others will say it confidence. Both are good for the game.
Quite importantly, Onduparaka’s arrival means the nation and Cranes coach Micho has a bigger pool of stars to consider for the senior side. The club’s goalkeeper Alimanzi Nafiani and lead striker Muhammed Shaban have already been summoned to the U-20 national side. Shaban went on to score in Rwanda. For a team sport, after promotion, the side will surely provide more stars to the Cranes.
I would be happy to conclude that many youngsters in the North will, going forward, realise making the Premier league is so achievable that making the Cranes is another open door.
Oh, by the way they also have an up and running Facebook page, Onduparaka FC, which could in away suggest the team is ready to expand its brand.
Welcome to the big boys club, Onduparaka. Congratulations to the North.