By Edwin Kule
If there is one thing Geoffrey Gagganga seems to want to be a good example of, it is being a good leader.
The UCU Cardinals’ captain consistently shows up at his games, works hard, and gives his best effort every time he is asked to represent Uganda Christian University.
This is perhaps why it was no surprise when he was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2023-24 University Football League campaign.
“I thank the Almighty Lord who has seen me through all the challenges of my career to reach this far. It has not been easy, but I am glad that the journey is starting to yield positively,” he stated then.
Football journey
Gagganga started his football journey at the age of 10 in the community of Mengo.
“Since childhood, I have been playing football, though the demands are different as the days roll. In my career, I have been handled by many people, though I recall that my story started from Kick For Life Academy,” he narrates.
“As I moved to primary, football was my biggest talent, and yes, I enjoyed representing my school at that level. I joined Mengo Senior Secondary School for O Level before I switched to Old Kampala SS for A Level. While at Mengo, Mr Mugerwa Jeremiah saw me play in my leisure time and asked me to join the school team,” he adds.
From that moment Gagganga’s football journey has been on the rise. While at Mengo, he joined the National Sports Academy (a special programme) while studying before he was transferred to Lungujja Galaxy FC for his maiden professional stint.
The future is bright
Gagganga is blessed with blistering pace and can use both feet well. He has an ability to score but also create goal-scoring opportunities, a much desired trait in footballers. Having played and done well in the university league, Gagganga is now setting his sights further.
“I am grateful for everyone who has been part of the journey. My next step now should be playing in the UPL (Uganda Premier League) for one of the biggest teams in the land,” he says adding, “Playing for the Uganda Cranes is my lifetime dream.”
“It is something very hard to achieve, but with hard work, I know I can make it. So the ball lies in my hands as I pray that God blesses the works of my hands,” he says.
Gagganga is liked by those both on and off the pitch. UCU Cardinals head coach Jimmy Mwera rates Gagganga highly, acknowledging that he is a special player who has a lot of potential to become a big player.
“I have worked with him (Gagganga) and I’m proud to have him on my team. He is an exemplary leader but also gives the team different attacking dimensions in different phases of the game,” the coach shares.
Gagganga’s teammate, Isaac Ofoyirwoth, reveals that he has learnt a lot from his captain and he is always happy to share the pitch with him.
“I can say a lot about Gagganga. He is not only a talented player but also supportive and hardworking. Each time we play together he motivates me to keep positive in the game. I am always humbled by the fact that Gagganga puts the team ahead of himself. He is always setting us up to score and shine yet he has the chance to take the moment as well,” Ofoyirwoth states.
Challenges faced
Having made many achievements and earned many successes, Gagganga has equally met challenges.
“One of the hardest times in my football journey is a time I suffered from a nasty injury (knee injury) and was threatened never to return to the beautiful game, but look where we are now,” he says.
Given how bad knee injuries can turn out to be, it was a tough time for the player. Many sportsmen have not been able to recover from their knee injuries in time to make a comeback. However, because the injury occurred when he was in high school, he had time to recover and come back to pursue his passion.
Even though his eyes are set on growing in football, Gagganga is also keen on pursuing and completing his studies. He is currently studying for a master’s degree in Development Monitoring and Evaluation.
“My first degree was in Development Monitoring and Evaluation. I decided to go for Master’s because of the need to be better as a person but also the university offered me the chance and I grabbed it with both hands,” he says.
He advises athletes in similar situations to have clear timetables that enable them to balance sports with education.
Gagganga concludes our interview by letting us know it is not a one-man thing, and he has come this far because of the people that surround him.
“I have had great company around me, right from the coaches, fellow players, talent guides, and my family. They have helped me in different aspects,” he says.
