It’s hard to put Jackson Mayanja’s astonishing football career into context. Like Diego Maradona breaking the World Cup, the Ugandan achieved something that many people believed physically inconceivable.

Renowned for his ability to control the ball and create scoring opportunities for himself and others, Mayanja led club teams to the CECAFA Cup.

Mayanja displayed football talent early, and at 15 he joined Kampala City Council Football Club (KCC FC).

“I was the captain of the Police Junior School football club at Nsambya, we used to have sections like the band section, dog section and I used to be in the dog section,” he says.

He adds; “The band section was for the Okello’s but I used to score them goals and they could chase me up to under my mother’s bed.”

Jackson Mayanja was born on July 27, 1969 to Francis Sekimpi and Joyce Nakafu of Lweza, Namayuba in Buikwe although it used to be Mukono district but grew up with his maternal grandfather Mr Wilberforce Kwanya at Nsambya Police Barracks.

The first time is when Kampala Football Club came to play a friendly with our Police FC unfortunately Police FC did not have enough players the coach at that time John Semakula had come to training his people but because he had seen how I play, he developed interest in me.

Kampala FC was not a cheap team because they had star players but that did not scare him, what Police FC did was to get him some extra-large uniform and boots and he was ready to go.

“Because of the size of the boots, I told them I would play without shoes and after some haggling, they allowed I entered the field and gave my best by the end of the day, I scored a goal and that was my turning point,” he says.

 “This won me a brand-new boot from the coach of Kampala FC who was an agent of Puma at the time, I kept that boot for a long time; in fact, my grandfather caned me thinking that I had stolen the boots.”

Turning point

From that game, one Fred Mugisha, a KCC player noticed him and informed Jaberi Bidandi Ssali who was the Minister of Energy at that time about a boy with an extra ordinary talent within days; they were knocking at Kololo Secondary School where I was studying.

After approval from his grandfather, Mr Mayanja transferred and started living with Bidandi Ssali, the challenge was that he was too small and he was mixed up with stars like Phillip Omondi but he had to get the courage and join the big boys regardless of his small frame.

“I got my first break through when KCC was playing Express FC in the Centenary Cup, that’s when I played to impress and that day in 1986-87 at an age of around 15 years I got my licence and the following year, I joined the Ugandan Premier League,” he says.

In the year 1987, he was invited to the national team, he also joined Kampala City Council FC up to 1992 where he helped them win the Kakungulu cup, the premier cup and on top of that he also helped Kololo SS with three cups.

He went on to play a key role as the club won the 1987 Uganda Cup title. Mr Mayanja scored eight league goals

“I joined that national team and in 1992-93 I became the top scorer of the qualifiers behind Nigeria’s Rashid Yekini where I scored six goals; at that time, we were only two professional players, me and Majid Musisi,” he says.

His outstanding performance saw Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) vote him the 1993 Footballer of the Year. He also played a big role in Uganda’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, scoring six times for the national team.

He later joined Tunisia’s Esperance in Tunis for two years, then he came back to KCC FC which he found in bad shape, the club had gone for six years without any trophy but in 1997 he was able to help the team win a trophy.

Mia Mia

Mayanja joined Egyptian side El- Masry, it was at El-Masry that club fans nicknamed Mayanja Mia Mia. This was in reference to his gritty and spirited effort. Mia Mia literally means one hundred percent or perfect.

Tragedy would strike again a few months into his new assignment as a knee injury ruled him out of several matches and the two parties agreed to end the contract pre-maturely although he had been voted best player in the Egyptian League.

He was also part of The Cranes side that won the 1996 CECAFA Cup in Sudan and for the second time

He also played for a club in Oman based Luwi FC and he finally hanged the boots in 2000.  He retired from the national team after captaining The Cranes 

Mr Mayanja coached and became the technical advisor to URA FC and guided them to the Super League in 2001. He later coached KCC FC in 2006 but quit after two years, he went to Kagera Sugar FC, Coastal Union FC, Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) club and coached. He also ventured into Rwanda where he became a coach.

“URA is the first team to remain the premier league since they joined in 2001,” he says.

Back again

After a colourful career, Mr Mayanja came back home and picked up Kyetume FC which had had failed to join the premier league for over 45 years. His efforts paid off when he was able to join the premier where it is at this time. He is currently the technical director at Kyetume FC

Managing finances

Mr Mayanja says like any other business, managing finances calls for disciple and the unfortunate part is that those days, players were not earning as much as they earn today.

He says; “I was an assistant coach for about eight years but I was not being paid; I’m not a rich man but what I had was a financial discipline, I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t party, I tried to put the small monies together and invested.”

He also says that interpersonal skills also help a lot both in the field and off field, being humble and approachable is a very good asset for old age on top of financial discipline.

“My advice to the youngsters is they should guard their money jealously and plan for old age and me being the chairman of the Ex International Players, I want them plan and be where we are and even better; the money they are getting is really a lot,” he says.

Mr Mayanja adds; “I don’t blame my generation for what they are now because there was no money at that time and even we did not have financial advisors, but today’s players will blame themselves if they squander.”

He cautions athletes to desist from the perception that ‘tomorrow I will get.’

Currently, he is a commercial farmer in Buikwe district he also started a school.

“The money I got from football I invested in schools; I own Jack Soccer Academy and some businesses like Jack Standard Day & Boarding Primary School in Buikwe district; I didn’t want to see children walk miles to school the way we used to do. That inspired me to start that school,” he says.

Advice

Mr Mayanja says, any sports personality should prepare for the rainy days because they are not going to be on the pitch forever.

“One should try to follow their passion in business or any investment because liquid cash is temporary; these that are easy to manage are transport services, taxi, real estate, wholesale shops, clothing lines but don’t do bandwagon,” he says.

He adds; “Your investments should also be determined with your earnings; don’t go for things that will stretch you and be miserable.”

On lifestyle, Mayanja explains that it’s okay to entertain yourself and friends but it should not go overboard; he says that athletes have a habit of overspending in bars, on women, clothing and up to date gadgets which is detrimental in the long run.

“I want to caution that being an ex international or national player does not take a lot of time; you can be on form today and tomorrow you are not, you can get one injury and your game will be up, so my request is plan and use your earnings well,” he says.

Mr. Mayanja is married to Fatuma Mayanja and the couple have six children.