Edirisa Nyombi: Final farewell to football legend

Kassanda was brought to a standstill when the remains of football legend Edirisa Nyombi were laid to rest at his ancestral ground in Kasekere, outskirts of Kassanda town council.

Nyombi, aged 78, a former footballer cum-coach died on Wednesday, July 2 at his home in Kabembe, Mukono district. He was buried the following day. Mourners gave the deceased a befitting send-off for a man who dedicated his entire career to the game.

It should be noted that Nyombi had been in and out of hospital for more than a decade having suffered from streaks of high blood pressure. Twice he suffered strokes, the first one happening in 2008.

The former Uganda national team player was taken to a host of hospitals by his family in an effort to cope with his deteriorating health. All this had been aimed at ensuring that he gets better. Nyombi was a beloved to many, as speaker after speaker during his funeral, recollected.

Many remembered him for his affectionate smile, humility, honesty, and generosity. He was such a down-to-earth person, which endeared him to many. Nyombi’s children, led by his eldest son Haruna Kazibwe, described him as such a loving father.

But they particularly thanked their brother-in-law, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda for his unwavering contribution towards their father’s treatment. Kazibwe spoke profoundly about how the Nganda for his unwavering contribution towards their father’s treatment.

Kazibwe spoke profoundly about how the mourners reciprocated their father’s love, when they came to give him a dignified send-off.

PPF STORM THE CEREMONY

A dozen of political figures including interim leader of People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and Kampala lord mayor Hajji Erias Lukwago, PFF politicians Ssemujju, Proscovia Salaamu Musumba, Francis Mwijukye, Roland Kaginda, Harold Kaija and William Bakanonda, among others, joined the family for the farewell.

Lukwago, particularly talked about Islamic teachings and Buganda cultural norms as he paid tribute to the deceased.

FUFA NO SHOW

Despite the late Nyombi’s contribution to the game, football officials, former players and fans did not attend Nyombi’s burial ceremony, and this might explain why his football background was distorted.

This is not the first time for football stakeholders to miss burial ceremonies of their colleagues. I remember vividly how they missed the send-off of Herbert Kamya, Peter Senfuma Luwandagga, David Otti and Parry Oketch, among others.

But as far as the late Nyombi was concerned, he was one of the few surviving national team footballers of the 1960s. Those still alive include; goalie John Agard, John Baptist Semanobe, Sam Bukenya, Ben Omoding, Steven Baraza and Alex Oundo, among others.

Nyombi played as a winger at Aggrey Memorial School and Namilyango College. He played club football at Bitumastics and later moved to Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) where he was also employed for a while.

His first Uganda Cranes call-up was in 1963. In 1965, he had a stiff competition with John Semanobe but a knee injury ended his football career in 1967. According to Semanobe, the late Nyombi was a fast winger and a dribbler.

“He was unplayable and used to make life difficult for his markers,” Ssemanobe said upon learning of Nyombi’s passing.

Being youthful and educated, Nyombi was sent to the Netherlands for a coaching course which he did before heading to the United Kingdom later on for an advanced coaching course.

Unfortunately, Nyombi never got a chance to handle The Cranes like some of his contemporaries such as Polly Ouma and the late David Otti did. However, he handled Uganda’s national youth team (1977-1980).

He was tagged ‘One Nira’ (1-0) because, he believed that one goal is enough to win a game; perhaps a mark of his conservative approach to the game, at times.

At club level, Nyombi coached teams like UEB, Lint Marketing Board, Uganda Airlines (1980-1981), Nakinsige clan (1987-1989) and, finally, SC Villa (1993). For what it is worth, let Nyombi’s death be a wake-up call for government and the football authorities that; former football stars deserve better treatment, instead of ending up as street beggars!