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Dr Ivan Sewanyana recently left Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) as the team’s medical chief.
The physio has served the Lugogo side for an uninterrupted 10 years; so, his departure should worry the club’s faithful, especially in that area. Sewanyana is arguably recognised as the best in the business in the country currently.
He has combined working for KCCA and Uganda Cranes for years.
“I love KCCA, and I supported it for years, but the pressure was high, and I wanted to give my club quality service, but I don’t have time to do it; that’s why I have taken such a decision,” said Sewanyana when I reached him on the phone recently.
He confirmed that he will remain as the Uganda Cranes physician. Sewanyana is arguably recognised as the best in the business, and besides KCCA, he worked with Sports Club Victoria University (SCVU).
His decision to leave KCCA after 10 years as first-team physio, having joined the club in 2015, will be a big blow. His work ethic, plus the passion he has shown at KCCA, will be highly missed at the club.
He is that doctor, who will leave his seat at the club’s technical bench to celebrate for a goal; we have been seeing him punching the air for a goal and he would be in sorry state when club was on conceding ends.
Sewanyana is a giant, but he runs fast to attend to an injured player, something which displays his work ethic and passion towards his work. He has left behind his sidekick, physician Emmanuel Tusubira, the man who has worked with Sewanyana for nearly nine years, but until he proves himself, the club will demand service from him.
Sewanyana was highly popular with players and officials. He is credited for handling tough cases which reportedly saved the club millions. According to sources close to KCCA, the club was ready to give him a better contract, but he reportedly declined to take it.
There were reports on social media claiming that the giant physician was set to cross to a top rival club, but he rubbished it, claiming he will not join a rival club; he will remain put at Uganda Cranes.
HOW HE JOINED KCCA
Sewanyana was born to Moris Ndawula and Deborah Nalubowa of Kitunzi Lungujja. Besides attaining a bachelor’s degree in medicine, Sewanyana also has a diploma in football medicine.
His first club to practise football medicine was Sports Club Victoria University, the club he served from 2011 until 2015, when he moved to KCCA, a club which had players like Muzamir Mutyaba and Savio Kabugo, whom he had worked with at SCVU.
It was KCCA chairman Julius Kabugo who signed Sewanyana a few days after recruiting Mike Mutebi as club manager in 2015.
UGANDA CRANES CALLING At KCCA
Sewanyana was also keen on players’ diets and reduced long-term injuries which had kept players on the sidelines. At that time, Fufa was noting, and in 2013, the federation consulted him about an injury which had sidelined Uganda Cranes skipper Geoffrey Massa for more than a month.
He put his head together with Uganda Cranes physician Dr Ronald Kisolo and treated the skipper, who then returned to the pitch. He also handled some other cases in the Uganda Cranes camp, something which forced Fufa to make him part of the Uganda Cranes medical team.
Since then, the rest is history. Sewanyana has travelled with Uganda Cranes wherever the team goes. He was part of the Uganda Cranes contingent during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
In 2019, he took over from Dr Kisolo and became the Uganda Cranes team doctor, travelling with the team to the 2019 Afcon held in Egypt. Sewanyana is also set to travel with the Uganda Cranes to the 2025 Afcon tournament in Morocco come December this year.
Sewanyana is joining a long list of elite doctors who have served as Uganda Cranes physicians. This list has the likes of Dr Ntege Senyendo, Dr Timothy Mutesasira, Dr James Sekajugo, Dr Sam Mutumba and Dr Ronald Kisolo, among others.
At KCCA, Sewanyana joined a small list of top club physicians like Dr Kamulegeya, Dr Timothy Mutesasira and Dr Makanga. Good luck, Ivan! Thanks for being part of Uganda football history!
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