Onduparaka FC

Amateur era

Onduparaka FC was formed during late October 2011 by Joe Erema and Benjamin Nyakuni, who had graduated from Makerere University Business School. Originally, the club was intended to benefit students and young people and enable them to play in inter-village competitions. The team was strictly amateur and created so that the youth would be kept on the path of moral uprightness through a healthy passion for competitive games. After only one year of participation, the team renamed themselves Onduparaka Football Club and got promoted from the Ugandan Big League to the Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) at the end of the 2015/2016 season.^[1]

2015–16 season

Onduparaka appointed former South Sudan national team coach Leo Adraa as their first Uganda Premier League head coach to replace Allan Kabonge whose contract expired after promoting the club to the top flight league and reaching the Uganda Cup Final. He later became the Technical Director. In August 2016, Charles Livingstone Mbabazi was named Head Coach and Adraa became the Assistant Coach while Moses "Ugoboss" Oloya became Goalkeeping Coach. ^[2]

In 2016, Onduparaka FC lost in the 42nd Uganda Cup Final by 3–1 to Vipers SC, their first appearance in the final.^[3]

2016–17 season

During 2017, their first season in the top flight, Onduparaka FC was the only UPL team unbeaten at home.

One of the club's targets in its maiden top-flight season was to avoid relegation. By the end of the first round of matches, Onduparaka had climbed to the top four. The last time an upcountry team won the league was in 1999 by Dairy Heroes from Mbale and fans hoped Onduparaka would be next or even pull off a promotion miracle like Leicester City FC had just done in England.

They started the season with a goalless draw against Soana, then lost to Bright Stars before drawing again on 6 September 2016, this time with Express FC, the Oldest Team in the league. The fourth game was against defending champions KCCA who had won all their first three games. Ondu needed a quick second half brace by Muhammad Shaban to inflict the first season loss to the 11-time champions on Friday 9 September 2016 at Greenlight Stadium. Despite a late onslaught, the visitors only managed a consolation goal; that was Onduparaka's first Uganda Premier League win. On Saturday 1 October 2016, SC Villa - the Most Successful Club in Ugandan Football scored first, then the Newcomers from Arua crawled back scoring three through Caesar Okhuti, Wahab Ajuman Gadafi and the leading Azam Uganda Premier League Top Scorer at that time Muhammad Shaban. The visitors fought back from 3–1 down until they equalised via a penalty netted by Tabu Vitalis (a former Onduparaka Captain) but Shaban had the last laugh with his second of the game. The match took place at Greenlight Stadium. Ondu couldn't be bullied by the Jogoos. A week before, Ondu had handcuffed Police FC 2–1 on the same ground (with goals by Shaban and Kabon). Three days prior to Ondu ending Villa's Unbeaten Run of the Season, FUFA cleared 26 year old Caesar Okhuti to play for the Northwesterners who sat at 5th on the table; he was on a six-month loan from KCCA since the middle of September. On Saturday 10 December 2016, Ondu beat Sadolin FC 1–0 at Bugembe Stadium to climb to 3rd place around half season courtesy of a Gaddafi free-kick. Ondu's leading goalscorer Muhammad Shaban (aka [I]jagason) was voted the 2016 FUFA MVP (Most Valuable Player) in a year when Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango also performed well and actually won the CAF Best Player in Africa Award and Farouk Miya scored the goal against Comoros that took Uganda to the tournament. In 2017, the three travelled to Gabon for AFCON; Onyango only played in the two narrow 0–1 defeats to Ghana and Egypt. Shaban came on as a substitute in both games while Miya was substituted but scored Uganda's only goal in the third game; Uganda drew 1–1 with Mali in the third group game to register at least a point after a 39-year absence from the continental showpiece. Also on Onduparaka's squad is KCCA loanee Caesar Okhuti who is no stranger to being a hot newcomer especially after he took the nation by storm with another Arua club called Ediofe Hills FC in 2007 and was called up to the national team.

Other players on the 2017 Onduparaka team included: Richard Anyama (goalkeeper formerly at Saints FC), Nisar Kasim (another Goalkeeper), Alex Gasper Adriko (aka The Rock), Norman Saddam, Rashid Toha, Gibson Adinho, Akram Kakembo, Ivan Mbowa, Ibrahim Faizul (aka Anini), Sabir Simba, Dickens Okwir, Mohammad Rashid, Ajobe Toto, Denis Andama, Rashid Agau, Living Kabon, Wahab Ajuman Gaddafi Gadinho and Fahd Muhammad Toko.^[4]

On Friday 17 February 2017, Azam TV broadcast a live game from Onduparaka's Greenlight Stadium for the first time. Kabon Living (also known as Messi), clad in a number 13 shirt, scored the only goal of the game from a Shaban assist in the 88th minute to give Ondu a win over Kirinya Jinja SS. Kabon took off his shirt, somersaulted in the goal celebration and got a yellow card for indecency but his goal leapfrogged Ondu to 3rd place next to SC Villa and KCCA. They dropped points with humiliating away defeats to KCCA (7–0 at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo - Record Biggest Loss in Uganda Premier League - Caesar Okhuti, loaned to Ondu by KCCA missed the match) and SC Villa (4–1 at Masaka Recreation Ground) but bounced back. Starting the day in 6th place on Saturday 1 April 2017 with a chance to climb to 4th with a win at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja after Vipers SC had already lost to a different Jinja side, Gaddafi scored one of the Contenders for Goal of the Season against Jinja Municipal Council who salvaged a 1–1 draw. On Wednesday 5 April 2017, Muhammad Shaban's first half goal was enough to beat nine-man Lweza at Greenlight Stadium and end a three match winless streak. In their first international friendly of the season, Onduparaka beat Gor Mahia 2–0 at Mandela National Stadium Nambole on Saturday 4 February 2017. Kizza Besigye, the four time Runner-up in the Ugandan Presidential Elections, watched the game clad in a green jersey and offered Onduparaka FC 2 million Uganda shillings. Then on Tuesday 21 February 2017, Onduparaka dressed in all white came from a goal down to beat Mbarara FC and advance to the Uganda Cup Round of 16. Airtel - FUFA MVP Shaban missed a penalty but Okhuti scored the winner in a 2–1 triumph at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara. On Sunday 26 March 2017, goals from Okhuti again and a returning Rashid Agau helped Ondu knock out Big League team Water FC and qualify for the quarterfinals.

On Sunday 9 April 2017, Sadolin Paints FC knocked Onduparaka out of the Uganda Cup by 2–1 in Jinja. Nevertheless, Onduparaka's Greenlight Stadium was chosen to host the 43rd Uganda Cup Final (KCCA defeated Paidha Black Angels 2–0 in June 2017). In a UPL fixture twelve days later, the Painters left Onduparaka with a point after a 0–0 draw. According to Coach Livingstone Mbabazi, his side created the most chances in the league during the 2017 season. He added that his "players don't fear big teams" because they know that they are big too though recovering from a 2–1 loss to Soana where substitute Shaban scored the consolation on 29 April 2017.

In fact, Ondu was one of the only two teams in the AUPL still unbeaten at home going into the Game Week 27 Fixture against Express FC on Friday 5 May 2017. Livingstone would miss Living Kabon suspended for three accumulated yellow cards and Akram Kakembo who had family issues. Sabir Simba meanwhile was recovering from malaria. Livingstone's first game as Onduparaka Coach was at Wankulukuku and ended 1–1. The return leg almost seemed to be heading in that direction with Express taking the lead through Didier Jean within the first halfhour after assistant captain Rashid Toha (towering defender nicknamed Per Mertesacker) slipped and Express capitalised. Ondu badly needed an equaliser after all their wasted chances; Muhammad Shaban hit the woodwork and missed other chances. Kickoff was in sunny weather but even the winds could not discourage lots of high balls. Then just before halftime, Dickens Okwir was fouled in the penalty box by the Express captain. Toha stepped up to score the equaliser in the 41st minute and redeem himself after sending the keeper the wrong way. In the second half, Coach Livingstone was restless on the touchline and urged his defence not to concede again. Rashid Agau excited the fans when he was called from the bench to warm up as a replacement for Caesar Okhuti, the Oldest Caterpillar. Fahd Toko meanwhile replaced Okwir less than 20 minutes from full-time. Shaban played his heart out but it just wasn't his day to steal the show when he missed a good opportunity for the winner close to extratime. Four minutes were added and while the game seemed to be headed to a repeat of the first leg, Rashid Toha scored the winner in the 3rd additional minute to send the stadium into a glorious frenzy. As the celebrations waned, Agau - the substitute for Caesar Okhuti was substituted with Caesar Olega, a fairytale of two Caesars crossing the line before and after the winner. A few seconds later, the final whistle was blown.

Coach Leo Adraa said that Ondu had more time to prepare unlike the Oldest Club in Ugandan football who were thumped four goals by Lweza in their previous game. Kampala musician Kalifah Aganaga who had a show in Arua that weekend was present donning a green Onduparaka jersey. Arua musician and producer King Weedah was also at the game. This win propelled the Caterpillars from 6th to 5th Position out of 16 above Express who remained with 40 points with three games left to the end of the season. Four points behind third-placed Vipers, the Caterpillars needed a win to reduce the gap to within one point. Fatefully, they were beaten 4–1 at the St. Mary's Kitende Stadium in Kajjansi on Tuesday 9 May 2017. The game was marred with violence. That same day, KCCA were crowned Champions for the second consecutive year. In the Last Home Game of the Season, Muhammad Shaban scored in the 16th minute but Saints FC equalised just before halftime. The army side needed only one point, that is a draw to be safe from relegation and leave the battle for survival to Lweza and Police; JMC Hippos had already been relegated. Caesar Okuti replaced Dickens Okwir in the second half while Denis Andama (aka Koko Makosa) later replaced Gasper. Saints goalie Alex Mugabi hit himself on the goalpost while trying to save a goal attempt and seriously needed medical attention; he was stretchered off and replaced by Harrison Sempajji who made a number of saves from rejuvenated Onduparaka attacks. Mohammad Rashid was replaced with Rashid Agau, the darling of Ondu fans and minutes later, Kabon Living was fouled in the penalty box. Captain Rashid Toha stepped up to convert the spotkick. Close to the end of normal time, Richard Anyama in the Ondu goal who had been transferred from Saints in January (along with Ivan Mbowa) conceded the second equaliser from a freekick. It seemed like the visitors were safe but after the four additional minutes were over, Kabon also known as Messi scored and relegated the Saints. Armymen cocked their guns while disgruntled visiting fans and officials pursued the referee plus his linesmen. After the chaos subsided minutes later, the game resumed until the 100th minute but Ondu still maintained their Unbeaten Record at home in their maiden top flight season. The last team to defeat them at Greenlight Stadium was Nebbi Central three years behind. In the final game of the season at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja, Dickens Okwir put Ondu ahead in the 28th minute while BUL FC had a goal disallowed immediately after. However, after some pressure, the hosts equalised in the 57th minute. This season finale in which Ibrahim Faizul was redcarded ended 1–1.

Onduparaka ended their first Azam Uganda Premier League season in 5th place on 45 points. Despite a negative goal difference, Ondu managed 11 wins, 12 draws and 7 losses in 30 games. At the Uganda Premier League Awards on Wednesday 27 July 2017, Muhammad Shaban was included in the Azam UPL Team of the Year. Each player in the list receives 250,000 UgX courtesy of Betway. Meanwhile, Ondu fans were voted the Best Fans in the same gala at Kampala's Imperial Royale.

2017–18 season

Shaban and Rashid Toha were sponsored for trials in South Africa but returned in the middle of July 2017. During pre-season with some new players, Onduparaka won 1–0 in their first friendly before beating Nyowa Young Elephants 4–1 with goals from Caesar Okhuti, Dickens Okwi and newcomer Karim Ndugwa who netted a brace. Then they visited Masindi (1–1, Ndugwa again) and Hoima. In the rain on Eid Adha Day (Friday 1 September 2017), Ondu beat JKS 3–0 with goals from Agau, Gadinho and Shaban who was returning from injury. Three days later, Betway announced a 600 Million Shilling sponsorship package for Onduparaka's transport and player welfare.^[5] Thursday 7 September, they would face Jinja Kirinya SS in a friendly.

The 2018 UPL season started on Tuesday 12 September 2017 and Ondu drew 0–0 with Proline FC at Greenlight Stadium despite 6 additional minutes in the second half. Four days later amidst a transfer request from Shaban who later joined KCCA, veteran Caesar Okhuti scored twice away to Maroons in Luzira to give Ondu their first win of the season. On Tuesday 19 September 2017, KCCA whipped Ondu 4–1. On Wednesday 27 September 2017, Ondu beat Police FC 1–0 in Arua. On Saturday 14 October 2017 in Arua, Ondu beat Soana FC 2–0 with early goals from Captain Rashid Toha (1st minute) and the debutant from Jinja Municipal Council - Viane Sekajugo (9th minute). Ondu pushed to the same 10 points with the table leaders but in third place while Soana remained second last with four points. Earlier that day, MTN Uganda had announced a one-year 390 Million UgX sponsorship deal for Onduparaka FC. During a press conference at Desert Breeze Hotel Arua, Val Oketcho, the MTN Uganda Corporate Communications Manager handed over a dummy cheque to Ondu Patron Honourable Bernard Atiku (who is also the Ayivu County MP).^[6] Saturday 21 October 2017, Ondu beat Express FC 2–1 at Wankulukuku to go top of the table (until the following Wednesday when an own goal by Kirinya Jinja SS at Nambole propelled Police FC to the summit on goal difference). Alfred Leku's 46th-minute goal and an acrobatic 92nd minute volley from veteran Caesar Okhuti (who has played for both teams) gave the visitors three points. Serunkuma got the goal for Express after a goalless first half. On Saturday 28 October 2017, Ondu and Vipers played out a goalless draw in Arua. Leku was ineligible to play because he was on loan from Vipers, Toha had a groin injury he picked from the Express game while Agau had a toe injury but Gasper was returning. The goalless draw nevertheless took Ondu back to the summit by a one-point difference until Tuesday 31 October when Police beat hosts UPDF in Bombo by 1–0. On Friday 3 November, Ondu drew 0–0 with BUL FC in Jinja. On Tuesday 7 November 2017, a jubilant Mbarara held Ondu to a 0–0 draw in Arua, their second goalless draw in a week. On Saturday 18 November 2017, Ondu beat Kirinya Jinja SS 1–0 in Arua courtesy of a penalty converted by goalkeeper Sebwato placing them one point behind table leaders Police FC but in fourth tied with KCCA and Villa on 19 points. Beginning the day in 5th place, Karim Bida's comeback brace gave Ondu a 2–1 victory over UPDF in Arua on Tuesday 28 November 2017 at a time when Caterpillar goalkeeper Nicholas Sebwato (nicknamed Mr. Safe Hands) had been summoned for national duty ahead of the CECAFA Challenge Cup. This game marked the middle of the season. Ondu's second half-end of the season began on Tuesday 19th December 2017 with a 2–1 loss to Masavu FC. Okhuti got the consolation goal by netting a penalty in the 90th minute. Three days later (Friday 22nd), they beat URA 1–0 courtesy of a Viane goal at Mandela National Stadium.

On 27th January, FUFA awarded Onduparaka a walkover into the 2018 Uganda Cup round of 32 after opponents Light S.S. did not appear. ^[7]

Onduparaka drew 0–0 with Express in a game that featured a female linesman on Saturday 10th February 2018. The following Tuesday, they were beaten 2–0 by Vipers in Kajjansi (Sebwato got a yellow card in the 45th minute) before losing 3–2 to 10-man Soana in the Stanbic Uganda Cup.

On Tuesday 20th February 2018, Ondu beat BUL FC 1–0 in Arua courtesy of former Express player Yafesi Mubiru's first goal for the Caterpillars. Ondu visited Kyabazinga Stadium on Saturday 3rd March 2018 but trailed Jinja Kirinya SS at halftime. The goal was scored by former Caterpillar Fred Adaku. Saturday 10th March 2018 marked the first day Onduparaka FC lost at home in the Uganda Premier League, beaten 0–1 by record champions SC Villa. Ondu remained with 29 points after 20 games and in 6th place. The following week after fans accused him together with some players of not giving their all for the team, Head Coach Livingstone Mbabazi parted ways with Onduparaka FC. In a public statement, the Management of Onduparaka FC reported that they asked Livingstone "to step aside with immediate effect from (the) UPL Matchday 21 Clash with UPDF (Wednesday 14th March 2018) until further notice."

In his absence, the technical bench comprising Leo Adraa, Simeon Masaba, Moses Oloya, Morris Adiga and Ramathan Musema would take care of the team. Ondu drew 0–0 in Bombo after a goal was cancelled, penalty denied and woodwork hit in the last minutes. On Good Friday 30th March 2018, two first half goals by Viane and a second half goal by Okhuti gave Onduparaka a 3–0 victory over Masavu FC. It was the first three-goal margin home win for the Caterpillars in the Uganda Premier League. A 40th-minute goal on Wednesday 4th April 2018 from Viane Sekajugo gave Ondu a 1–0 win at Proline FC's Startimes Stadium Lugogo, Kampala. OFC hosted Maroons on Monday 9th April 2018 in Arua, but the game remained locked at 0–0. On Tuesday 17th April 2018, Ondu hosted defending champions KCCA FC who took their starman Muhammad Shaban. When he scored in the first half, KCCA manager Mike Mutebi looked quite satisfied but Viane equalised for the hosts after the restart; game ended 1–1.

At Nambole on Friday 27th April, OFC beat the Law Keepers 5–0 with two goals from Viane in the first half (30', 40'), Moses Ndawula (62'), Hassan Muhammod - Mudu (64') and Ezra Bida (83'). This was Ondu's Biggest Away Win in two years of the UPL. Ondu ended the day in 4th place (but having played one game more) with 41 points, 11 points behind the table leaders SC Villa, nine behind KCCA and seven from Vipers with four games left. Ondu faced URA FC on Wednesday 2nd May 2018 but drew 0–0. Two days later, a 94th-minute lone goal by Jamal Malish gifted the Caterpillars victory over hosts Soana. On Wednesday 9th May, they visited Mbarara FC notorious for getting penalties. The game was lost predictably to a penalty for the hosts. In the final game of the season on Friday 25th May 2018, Ondu beat their visitors Bright Stars 2–0 with a first half goal from Caesar Okhuti and second half strike from Ezra Bilda. Okhuti was sent off in this game but OFC remained fourth, one place better than their first season in the top flight.

2018–19 season

To start the offseason, Onduparaka FC and KCCA FC played a two-legged friendly charity matchup to support palliative care in Arua, Onduparaka winning the first leg 3–1 in Lugogo on Saturday 30th June 2018.^[8] The Charity Walk to Greenlight for Hospice Arua was on Saturday 14th July 2018. That same month, KCCA's double-winning captain Denis Okot Oola joined Onduparaka on a two-year deal among half a dozen new players including Abel Eturude from SC Villa plus the pacy winger Nicholas Kagaba from URA FC. New Onduparaka coach Asaph Mwebaze led his side to the first FUFA Super 8 Final sponsored by Pilsner featuring the Top 8 Teams from the Uganda Premier League. Onduparaka drew 1-1 in the semifinals with SC Villa but knocked out the Jogoos 5-4 on penalties. Though they lost 2-0 to KCCA in the finals on Saturday 25th August 2018, Ondu walked away with a 5 Million UgX cash prize, half of what the winners got.^[9] Ondu lost 1-0 at Soana in a friendly on Wednesday 5th September 2018. On Saturday 22nd September 2018, Ondu hosted Wakiso Giants in a friendly six days before the UPL season started.

On the Opening Day of the 2019 UPL Season, a 28th minute header by Viane Sekajugo plus a 78th minute penalty by Sebwato gave Onduparaka three points in Arua against Mbarara-based debutants Nyamityobora FC. A lone goal by Rashid Toha gave Ondu a 1-0 away win at Nambole against SC Villa on Wednesday 3rd October 2018.