Shortly after being named Assistant coach at FUFA Big league new comers National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Football Club, Bashir Bastu Ssemuyaba didnot hide his joy elevating from the regional league.
Overwhelmed with joy, the ambitious young coach, as well opened up on his big dream of coaching in the English Premier league while Speaking to Sports256.
Bastu joined NEC as assistant to Micheal Lukyamuzi AKA skills from a third tier side Kiyinda Boys a club where he had spent Five (5) seasons. Speaking to us in an exclusive interview, he also expressed his readiness to take on the job at a higher level.
Am happy to join a second tier ambitious club. It’s under my ambition to gradually coach football.
My target in this professional, is to coach in the English Premier League one day, which I believe needs dedication, commitment and hardwork and as well, I want to help develop and discover more talents.
For this new task, I am prepared because I have been keenly following up big league football. And am conversant with it’s chemistry . I know the boys and there capabilities as well .
Bastu, proudly states that he was inspired by coach Mike Mutebi in 2014 to take coaching serious when he (Bastu) was coaching secondary school football at Pride SS in Mityana.
The versatile Ssemuyaba, a politician, a football coach by professional, is serving and has served football in different capacities as a delagate, administrator, referee, and as a Sports journalist.
When asked about how he has managed to balance politics, coaching, administration and Sports journalism, he had this to say;
Everything has it’s own time, but I have concentrated more on coaching now. Football Administration is something done periodically but coaching is a routine assignment. Am soon quiting politics as well to concentrate more on coaching to achieve my EPL target.
My ambition now is, I want to continue developing players and continue winning trophies on merit.”
As an admistrator, Bastu is the FUFA Delegate representing Mityana, an executive member of Buganda region Football Association ( BRFA) and a member to the FUFA Equipment, project & Inflastructure committee.
Before joining Kiyinda Boys in 2017, he had managed; Rillys Company FC (Mukono), Katakala FC, Community SC, Mityana TC FC, Butega Red Stars FC, Upendo learning center P/S and Pride SS.
About leaving Kiyinda boys, he believes he has left structures that can sustain the team.
I don’t think they will miss me so much, because it is a long journey I have moved with Kiyinda, I have developed players and actually I did develop my Asst coach Ggitta whom I know can do what I have been doing or even better if he is given an opportunity to serve as head coach .
The young man is one of those Ugandan coaches that have played football before joining coaching.
In his playing career the ambitious coach featured for Bujubi FC, Mityana TC, Community SC, Rilly company FC, Kyannamugera FC, Luzira United, Kigoogwa Balangila FC, Mityana Municipality FC
He Played for Ssingo in Masaza Cup from 2007-2011 and was assistant captain.
Though he didnot win as a player, Bastu won two gold medals for Ssingo in 2015 and 2018 against Buddu, won two Silver medals in 2013 and 2017 as Technical director and Public relations officer of the team.
As technical director of Singo, he went ahead to win Three Kabaka Coronation Cup titles in 2015 against, In 2017 against Buwekula and the recent one in 2018 against Kyaddondo.
Bastu was raised by Utoda FC young and is also a product of Friends of football and City tyres.
Played School football for Mityana Junior P/S, St Noah’s Kiyinda P/S, Mityana Town ss, Trinity College, St Peter’s Busuubizi and Pride SS.
Bastu managed to share the pitch with many of the current and retired Ugandan football stars like Alex Kakuba, Yassar Mugerwa, Yusuf Mukisa, Allan Katwe, Sam Mulondo, Imam Isaac Bumbuli and many others.
Ssemuyaba is one of the few Ugandan coaches that love studying and being challenged and currently a CAF C diploma holder, but has a FUFA referees’ certificate, a FUFA Beginners coaching certificate, a FUFA Level D coaching certificate, FAMACO 1 certificate and FAMACO 2 diploma on his name.
In his playing time, he won three Mityana DFA league with two clubs; Katakala FC and two with Mityana Municipality FC.
The decorated coach as many of his close plas prefer calling him, has before managed to win 4th division league with Kiyinda boys, won 3rd division play offs with Kiyinda when they defeated Kampala University.
He also won the Zone 3 mini league tittle with Kiyinda Boys when they defeated Movit FC, Namasuba.
In 2020, he won the Mityana DFA title and won silver in 2022.
He also has Mityana District Copa Coca Cola tournament title on his name with Pride having defeated Mumsa in 2014.
Bastu won the Mityana District Independence Cup still with Pride SS when they beat Royal Giants in 2014.
He as well, defeated Kampala to win Uganda Local Government Association Cup (ULGA) Cup in 2018.
In an extended big interview, he highlighted on his so far biggest and low moment of his coaching career.
My biggest moment was in 2016-17 when Kiyinda boys went down 3-0 at Half-time against Coach Simon Dunga’s Busiro United and we won it 4-3 after i made several changes and we qualified to the next level of Uganda cup.” Bastu stressed.
And so far my worst/lowest moment, was when I lost to Wakiso Giants 1-0 at home in the Stanbic Uganda Cup.
His new club NEC FC, was promoted to FUFA Big League after defeating Water FC in the Kampala Regional League play-off final that was played at Wankulukuku Stadium.
NEC was promoted along with Jinja North United FC (Eastern Region Champions), Soroti City FC (North East Region Champions), Adjumani Town Council FC (West Nile Region Champions), Gate Way FC (Northern Region Champions), Karo Karungi FC (Western Region Champions) and Lugazi FC (Buganda Region Champions).
