The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
Frank Kisakye & John Vianney Nsimbe
27 August 2008
column
His friends describe him as a man who wouldn't hurt a fly. One of his players, Brian Umony, describes him as a nice, warm, receptive and encouraging human-being. He said that of him before KCC football club won the league in the period he presided over 13 league games of which the club won 12. This was KCC's first league title in eleven years.
George Nsimbe had just become caretaker coach upon the resignation of Moses Basena (now at URA). For this achievement, the soccer fraternity christened him George 'Best' Nsimbe. George Best is a legendary soccer player from Northern Ireland who is regarded Manchester United's best footballer ever.
Born on December 29, 1966, Nsimbe is third in a family of two girls and three boys.
His father was a Luo from Kenya called Richard Siambe (RIP). He worked in Uganda for a while but returned to Kenya, leaving Nsimbe's now deceased mother Monica, pregnant.
Monica got married to the late Paulo Nsimbe who raised Nsimbe like his own son, including giving him his name.
"I had two fathers, I may say. But I was closer to Paulo because he raised me and nurtured me. But I also loved my real father although I did not know him much," said Nsimbe.
Nsimbe went to Wandegeya Moslem for his primary education. He later joined Kololo High for S1 - S3 before his football talent landed him at Lubiri Senior Secondary School (SSS) for his S4 and S5.
Nsimbe was later snatched by Kololo SSS for his S6 where he admits he scored only one pass in History, Economics and Geography because of spending most of his time playing football.
"I will not lie; I was not reading my books but playing football," he said.
It was this football craze that saw Nsimbe join Red Cross FC at 15 years when he had just joined secondary. He spent just a year there before he was lured to Wandegeya FC for another year and later on National Insurance Corporation from 1983 to 1984.
Nsimbe was spotted by KCC through a person he idolizes. Moses Nsereko. Nsereko was both a KCC and Cranes icon whom Nsimbe watched first when he was in Senior One. Nsereko played as a number eight but Nsimbe started out at number seven and nine before he was discovered as a good anchorman at NIC.
Nsimbe joined KCC in 1985 as a successor to the retiring coach/player Nsereko but as a number six this time.
At that time, the policy at KCC was that every retiring footballer had to spot a successor and bring him to the team. Nsereko brought Nsimbe while former KCC Skipper, Sam Musenze brought Charles Masiko in defence.
"It was a dream come true for me, because I had always admired the way KCC played their kakeka (passing) football," he said. "To be [Nsereko's] successor was just an honour," Nsimbe said. This was despite the fact that his father supported Express FC.
It took Nsimbe just four matches to establish himself as a first team player at KCC.
"It was against Nsambya in 1985 that really broke the deadlock for me and I never looked back," he says. That season climaxed with another league trophy. He went on to win the Kakungulu Cup in 1987 and the league in 1991.
In 1987 Nsimbe got his first call to the Cranes but was dropped later because he was vying for the slot against seasoned campaigners: Moses Ndawula, Paul Nkata and Twaha Kivumbi.
But in 1988, he made it to the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup with the Cranes in Malawi where he got his first caps when Nkata got injured.
His former Cranes Coach Polly Ouma says: "He was a very meek young man; very likeable, hardworking and always pushed his team-mates to go for a win and I was not surprised when he guided KCC to the league. He was so humble, disciplined and a gentleman."
Nsimbe was assistant captain to Masiko in KCC from 1993 to 1994 and full captain in 1995 and 1996 after Masiko was kept out by injury. Nsimbe retired in 1996.
"I played five consecutive seasons without rest for club and country. I suffered a burn-out and my body could not carry on with the pace of the game, so I hang up my boots," Nsimbe says.
A soft spoken man and a friend to everyone, Nsimbe says his closest buddies are Masiko, Tom Lwanga, and the late Majid Musisi, with whom he grew up tormenting opponents on the football fields of Mulago.
Mujib Kasule, a former KCC player, told The Weekly Observer sometime back that Nsimbe is a likeable man and coach any player would be endeared to.
A devout Catholic, Nsimbe says that as a rule he has to pray at Mulago Catholic Church every Sunday.
He is married to Florence with whom they have three children: Collin Nsimbe (21), Cedric Nsimbe (19) and Joan Nsimbe (17). Nsimbe stays in Kyebando where he built a house that he says is a fruit of football. It is again through football that Nsimbe landed a job at KCC where he works from 8a.m to 2p.m as a street lighting technician.
"I have an inborn skill of operating electronics," he says.
The smiling coach told The Weekly Observer that his favourite meal has got to have posho, matooke and sweet potatoes with beef or fish.
Nsimbe has an ambition of becoming Uganda Cranes coach some day although he does not expect to coach beyond the age of 50.
He loves swimming and Afrigo band, especially their classic hit Olumbe Lw'obwavu. Nsimbe is also a fan of Arsenal Football Club.
"My saddest moment in life was when Nsereko was killed in cold blood," he said with a frown. Nsereko, his mentor, was murdered in 1990.
Nsimbe has started the new season the way he ended the last one. His high flying KCC has started its defence of the league trophy with four wins in four games played. With such results, he will be expecting to be confirmed as head coach of KCC soon, the club he has won trophies for, as a player, and coach. Then, at long last, his career will have come full circle.
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