Current Fufa Footballer of the year Mohamed Shaban has signed for Kampala Capital City Authority, completing his acrimonious move from Onduparaka FC for a reported fee of Shs25 million on transfer deadline day, which brought an end to a long-running transfer saga.
Shaban wrapped up his switch with a three year deal to reigning league champions KCCA FC on Thursday after a row over his cut of the sign-on fees that is believed to be in the region of Shs55 million. The 19-year-old is moving on from West Nile under bitter circumstances after being the Arua club’s poster boy way before their promotion to the Azam Uganda Premier League in June 2016.
Shaban has been AWOL from Onduparaka since returning from South African trials (with SuperSport) at the start of this transfer window and he was yet to play a league game for them this season despite being fit.
The youthful striker who scored 13 goals last season has been a centre of argument with Onduparaka CEO Anthony Affeti clashing with Fufa Players’ Status Committee chairman Ochom Richard who this week ordered the player be released to join a club of his choice.
“We are utterly disappointed by Fufa’s ruling, the manner in which the process has been handled with no consideration for the best interests of the club” Affeti said in a statement.
Onduparaka previously indicated the club is considering legal action against Shaban, KCCA FC and Fufa over an audio message from the Uganda Cranes forward that was released on social media.
Shaban then hit back at the club and pledged to reveal “the truth” in a press conference, amid reports he felt he was being forced out of the club.
In fact, the move became acrimonious a year before it happened, thanks to a tapping-up
KCCA manager Mike Mutebi talked about his part in the infamous ‘tapping-up’ affair that contributed to Shaban’s move from West Nile to Kampala but believes that the situation will not affect the player’s mentality.
“Initially, I would have brought him to KCCA last year,” Mutebi told journalists at Lugogo today.
“I have been following Shaban since he was a little boy at Arua Public Primary School. He promised going forward a lot but was distracted.”
“At Onduparaka, he leaves with a air about him, an aura that he is King which puts him in a right frame of mind that he needs to work hard as a football but we shall tame him.”
“Shaban is going to compete with Derrick Nsibambi, Tito Okello, Kayongo Ssekamatte, Faisam Malango and Abubaker Sadiq Tijani. for that one slot upfront. If he misbehaves or misses training, I will not play him.”
“I have signed someone who brings goals but I insist, Shaban is not here to replace Geoffrey Sserunkuma, he is here as Mohamed Shaban.”
