Uganda Premier League record champions SC Villa have taken major steps to prevent fans hooliganism ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The Club, led by First Vice President Mobilization and Fans Affair Immanuel Ben Misagga organised a Stewardship Workshop on Wednesday at their new home Wankulukuku.
Despite stringent measures put in place by FUFA, fans trouble has remained a persistent problem in Ugandan football.
And SC Villa leads from the top since recent memory, and last season for starters, was plagued by a number of such incidents.
Majorly, the Jogoos were deducted one point by the FUFA Competitions Disciplinary panel following ugly incidents against KCCA FC on 18th December 2022.
Then, in the 76th minute, SC Villa fans threw broken beer bottles to the KCCA FC Technical bench.
The club had in an earlier match been cautioned after their fans pelted stones to the BUL FC Technical bench which led to temporary stoppage of the game in a 2-1 loss at Njeru.
The training on Wednesday focused on the Club Fans’ Branch executive in aspects of stewardship that include safety, security and personal conduct in the stadium.
The branch leaders were taken through most of the said aspects in the training to go back and train all their branch members on the same.
“We want to instill discipline and show fans that if you lose a game, you don’t need to fight. You have to move as people who are civilised,” a calm Misagga told the Media.
“We are guarding ourselves from losing points in the boardroom. We di not want Games to abandoned because our fans fail to control themselves.
“So the fans leaders have created a committee amongst themselves whose role is to create a good atmosphere during the games.
“We want to make it possible for our fans to come with their children and family and enjoy the good brand of football we want to play next season.”
The training was facilitated by Safety and Security Experts, Club officials and other senior Journalists like David Lumansi, Hassan Badru Zziwa and Charles Bwanika Ssensuwa spoke to the fans as well.
SC Villa CEO William Nkemba and Vice President Technical Salim Ssemanda also attended the event.
Nkemba asked the fans to be patient with the new signings and give them time to gel as the season progresses.
The fans branches – Villa Park, Nateete, Jinja, Kalerwe, Ntebe, Makerere, Lugazi and Mbarara – sent about three representatives each for the half day event.
