Sports Club Villa, one of the country’s oldest and most successful clubs has announced a change in ownership and governance.
The 16-time Uganda League champions announced the development on Wednesday morning in a statement posted on their social media platforms.
According to the statement, the Club will be owned by the community under the Villa Members Trust.
“Our decision to reposition and redirect the club’s ownership and governance structure is a firm foundation for generations to come,” Club officials wrote in the statement.
“In 1975, we started a football club composed of boys in the areas of Nakivubo but little did we know that we were giving birth to the most successful club in the history of Ugandan Football. We are here today to witness history and also inform our people, fans and the general public that Sports Club Villa hereby becomes the first modern-day Community Football Club in Uganda.” The statement further reads.
Background
After its promotion to the country’s top tier league, Sports Club Villa, has recorded many glorious achievements both locally and on the International level.
The Club has come out as the Runners Up of the CAF Club Champions Cup, Runners Up of CAF Confederations Cup, won the CECAFA Club Champions three times, won the Uganda Cup nine times and top of all, has won the Ugandan domestic league 16-times.
The historical club has however gone through a trying period since 2004 which have shaken it up but despite the situation at Villa Park, the Club still holds a record for never being relegated since their promotion in 1979.
In July 2018, Sports Club Villa was faced with three (3) major challenges including the Sporting Continuity, Contested Ownership and lack of proper Governance.
To combat the challenges, an interim committee was constituted, headed by Eng. William Nkemba, to address these three (3) major Challenges and since then, there has been fundamental progress which is also visible to the sports fraternity in the country.
Who Owns Sports Club Villa?
Sports Club Villa was created in 1975 as Nakivubo Villa, it was later transformed into Sports Club Villa.
Whereas there have been many well-intended efforts to streamline the ownership of Sports Club Villa, nothing came close to solving the challenge.
That, the officials said was the reason for the introduction of the Villa Members Trust who will be the Owners of Sports Club Villa.
What is Villa Members Trust?
Villa Members Trust is incorporated under the Trustee Incorporation Act (CAP 165) as a body corporate.
The Board of Trustees shall be the custodians of the Villa Members Trust.
The Villa Members Trust shall be composed of Sports Club Villa fans who shall have paid annual membership subscription fees of 50,000 UGX.
According to the statement, the Members of the Villa Members Trust shall be entitled to; One Vote for the Sports Club Villa President once every four (4) years and one Individual Season Ticket per season of full subscription.
“The current and future fixed assets of Sports Club Villa shall be owned by the Villa Members Trust.
The Villa Members Trust Membership registration shall be officially launched on 30th October 2020 and closed on 31st December 2020 for the season 2020/21.”
How will Sports Club Villa be governed?
Going forward, Sports Club Villa shall be governed through the Club Statutes and by the following structures;
1) The Club Congress (120 Persons) that shall be the legislative body of the club composed of paid up Villa Trust Members.
2) The Club Executive Board (11 Persons) that shall be the executive body of the club composed of paid up Club Congress Members.
3) The Club President (1 Person) that shall be elected every four (4) years by the Villa Members Trust Members, chair the Club Congress and Club Executive Board and together with the board, supervise the Club Secretariat.
4) The Club CEO employed on contract, who shall head the Club Secretariat and whose role will be the day-to-day running of the club, supported by other administrative and technical staff.
“The pleasing part is that the Interim Committee has managed to restore the upward sporting trajectory of the club finishing third in the 2019/2020 season, solved the ownership challenges, put in a place a governance structure for the club’s posterity and also acquired an office for the club on a six-year-lease,” officials further said.
