Football has brought joy, fame to Paul Mucureezi

Early this month, one of the best talents in Ugandan football, Paul Mucureezi announced he was leaving the Uganda Premier League defending champions, Vipers Sport Club where he had spent three years.

The midfielder-cum-forward said he would announce his next step in his footballing career.

The Youth Blitz looks at the life of the 29-year-old born of Ntungamo who has a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics but chose to use his footballing talent to earn a fortune.

Born to Rev Jonathan Bwanahoro and Jolly Bwanahoro, Mucureezi studied at Kabale Primary School before joining Kigezi High School for his O-level.

He later went to St. Mary’s Kitende for his Advanced Level education before joining Uganda Christian University.

He says his love for football started in his formative years in the village.

“We used to watch football and some of the people I used to watch play made me fall in love with the game. Since the football pitch was near our home, I used to see people enjoy the game and it was fun. I can say it was love at first sight. The more watched but also tried to imitate those playing is the more I fell in love with football. One thing led to the other and before I knew it, I was playing football,” the 29-year-old says.

He says that his siblings also fell in love with football and were good at it but later chose other paths.

Mucureezi says that as he grew, so did his footballing talent.

He joined Bugonji Football Club then later Nyanja Football Club, all in his home district of Kabale.

Mucureezi later joined Kigezi Good Samaritan Football Club.

Because of his talent, in 2009, Mucureezi was among the best players from post primary competition that Coca Cola chose to take to South Africa.

This talent caught the eyes of many and consequently, St.Mary’s College Kitende gave him a bursary to study at the school for his A-Level in 2011 and that launched his journey to Kampala.

He later joined Mutundwe Lions Football Club.

He says that whereas his parents were not supportive of him playing football, this changed during high school when they realized they had been relieved of the school fees burden because of his footballing talent.

Budding career

Mucureezi says that immediately after he completed senior six, Mutundwe Lions Football Club signed him and everything moved according to plan as his footballing career continued budding.

It was not long before 13 times Uganda Premier League champions, KCCA FC came knocking in 2015.

He played at KCCA FC until 2018 when he was released and he joined Mbarara City Football Club from where he connected to Vipers Sports Club.

He says whereas he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Logistics and Procurement, he chose a footballing career, a decision he is proud of having taken.

“I am happy and proud to have put aside what I studied at university to concentrate on my footballing career. Football is a profession which has given me social capital and is not stressing at all,” Mucureezi says.

Proud moments

Whereas he is proud of every moment he enjoys in his footballing career, the 29-year-old says the day he bagged four goals as Uganda hammered South Sudan 5-1 in their CHAN qualifier in Kampala in 2017.

 “That is a moment I cherish most in my career but also scoring a goal for KCCA against CNaps Sport from Madagascar (in CAF champions League preliminary stages) was an unforgettable,” he says.

Mucureezi says he can’t forget the goal for KCCA FC against SC Villa in Mityana in the 2014/2015 season that won him hearts of many.

He says overall, his career has been a blessing with a lot of achievements that he says prefers to keep private.

“I have no regrets in the game. I have won four league titles, two with KCCA FC and an equal number with Vipers. I have also won two Uganda Cup titles with KCCA and Vipers. I am proud of what I have achieved so far. I plan stay in football and live all my life in it because I love the game.”

He says in future, he plans to help children from Western Uganda develop their talents so they can get noticed by the big boys in Ugandan football and abroad.