OPINION: Onduparaka FC can still rise again; club restructuring is the way to go

The phrase 'Organization is a journey, not a destination' fits perfectly with Onduparaka FC.

The Arua-based side, relegated to the FUFA Big League at the end of the 2022/23 StarTimes Uganda Premier League campaign, is rebuilding.

During the week, the caterpillars revealed a new organogram structure, ending the previous set-up, where the club's majority shareholder Benjamin Nyakuni runs the club operations daily.

New Dawn

A club president, Anthony Afeti, and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), yet to be named, will operate under the supervision of a board of directors.

The other departments created include the Stadium manager, Finance, communication/public relations, the technical team, welfare manager, backroom staff, fans and the general public/well-wishers.

Afeti is a seasoned football administrator who formerly worked with Onduparaka FC as a CEO and operations Manager; he later joined rivals Arua Hill FC in 2020 but left in January 2023.

What Happened

Onduparaka FC's story oscillates from the bottom to the top and back to the bottom. The first three seasons in the top flight at the club were the most exciting in Ugandan football.

The excitement and thrill that came with the Caterpillars playing home or away, mostly the former, spiced up the league.

But in 2018, when main sponsor Betway parted ways with the side, all hell broke loose.

Player exoduses, intrigue, fans discontent and misconduct became the order of the day as the side battled to remain in the top flight.

And it cost the side as they were relegated for the first time in six seasons, all blamed on the club's lack of structure.

The future

The new structure at the club, if well organized, will go a long way in helping the club be sustainable for the future; the set-up is akin to top African and European sides that have existed for decades.

The club management must hire the right personnel in their positions because structures require competent people who execute efficiently.

What former players say

Mohammed Shaban

A poster boy during his time at Onduparaka FC, the hot-tempered forward is only full of praise for his first love.

"I thank God and the club management (Benjamin Nyakuni and Mercy Manduru) for being there for the club and us; Onduparaka made us who we are today; without it, we wouldn't be anywhere," Shaban noted.

"The club exposed us to the world; I know it will take them only a short time to return; they made Ugandan football exciting with their fanbase."

"My best moment was when we got promoted and the Uganda Cup final, which we lost to Vipers at Nakivubo stadium."

Abel Etrude and former captain Rashid Toha concur with former teammate Mohammed Shaban, adding that the team will return to the top flight.

"Onduparaka FC contributed a lot to the development of many players, so it's tough to see them go down, but they can bounce back," Toha told Pulse Sports.

"They have a very loyal fan base who will support them all through."

With such a loyal and supportive fan base, Onduparaka FC should take up a well-structured communal ownership module.

Where fans own a stake in the club to a certain percentage, and the rest is taken over by other shareholders, mainly with financial muscle.

As the new FUFA Big League season nears kick-off, Anthony Afeti, who has his work cut out, will be hoping he helps the side to return to the top flight for a second time.