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KEN MUTENYO: The making of Tooro United promotion hero Marvin Oshaba

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He scored 9 goals in the regular season of the 2020/21 Big league season and in due course, his goals contributed almost 30% of Tooro’s tally for season.

Most importantly, he converted the all important penalty that clinched Tooro’s fate into the topflight league for next season. That can not be taken for granted because Tooro United were awarded a late penalty during their penultimate match against Luwero United and they failed to convert it even after being granted two opportunities to out it away.

Oshaba exhibited a great deal of calmness and composure in executing his opportunity which left many awed by the maturity beyond his age.

Luckily, we managed to co – operate with Mr Kennedy Mutenyo the man who saw Oshaba during his infant time in the game to give you a glimpse of how the youngster has managed to get at this level.

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Mutenyo says,

In 2013, Copa Coca-Cola talent identification boss Matia Lule, Coach Nimrod Kintu & myself identified some young boys from teams that had not qualified for the National finals that were held in Kabale.

We did this because most of the boys at the National finals hosted by Kigezi High School were above 15 years and yet the secretariat in South Africa wanted those 15 and below.

We picked them from schools like Ntare School, St Leo’s Kyegobe, Kololo SS, Uganda Martyrs Lubaga, Kitante Hill School, Kings College Buddo, etc

At the press conference to unveil the team, many journalists wondered where we taking “these young boys”, they wondered.

Another said, ” you are taking tourists”

I remember telling the journalists ” We would rather concede 10 goals per match than take over-aged players to break rules & ashame Uganda”.

In Pretoria at the games village, the boys got shocked because we were very well welcomed by the Coca-cola team.

Marvin Oshaba was frustrated by the Luwero defense in the penultimate match at Wankulukuku. He was withdrawn by Edward Golola

Each team member including the Chaperones, was given a branded sports bag full of different uniforms and other sports wear.

We moved to the second table, where each of the boys got a pair of football boots and another pair of sneakers!

When each of us entered our hotel rooms, we together with the boys found branded tracksuits.

I was very happy because wherever we team Uganda passed, onlookers would say ” Uganda has brought children”.

Tournament proper, we were drawn in group A where we emerged 2nd to qualify for the semis. At this level, We played against Egypt and drew 0-0 after regulation time, to go for spot kicks.

We eliminated Egypt by pipping them 5-4 because they shot their last kick out.

At the finals, we were beaten 0-2 by eventual champions Zambia.

But one of the most outstanding players on our team was our youngest player (15 years old 2013) from NTARE SCHOOL called MARVIN OSHABA.

Asked to pick one boy to go to the 2014 Fifa world Cup in Brazil, I picked MARVIN OSHABA.

Marvin had a blast in Brazil where he was exposed to modern aspects of the beautiful game.

In 2016, Allan Okello emerged Most Valuable Player,(MVP) of the Soroti Copa Coca-cola tournament who has also gone ahead to join professional football.

Another such success story is that of Steven Sserwadda who was about 15 years, when the Copa Coca-cola team here picked him to go to Germany in 2015. Steven, is now on the way to the Major Soccer Leagu (MSL) in the US for professional football.

Watching NTV 9:00pm news, I heard that Tooro United has qualified to join Uganda’s premier league via a spot/penalty kick by MARVIN OSHABA!!!

Marvin, I am very proud of you.
THANK YOU COCA-COLA SYSTEM
THANK YOU COPA COCA-COLA
THANK YOU NIMROD KINTU
THANK YOU MATIA LULE
THANK YOU CHRISTINE MAINA
THANK YOU R.OUMA-BWIRE

Indeed,

COPA COCA-COLA- Where Heroes are made

(Article was published with approval from Mr Kennedy Mutenyo, promotions manager Coca Cola- Uganda)

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