The recent big attendances at Uganda Premier League (UPL) games have given the local league hope for greater things to come. The big crowds at Fufa Stadium, Kadiba, Phillip Omondi Stadium and of course at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende cannot go underestimated. SC Villa’s home games against Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC and league leaders Vipers SC attracted huge crowds and the same can be said at Omondi Stadium where KCCA hosted Kitara FC. Before the above encounters, Vipers also played before a big crowd against Hoima based Kitara in Kitende. This is good for football especially in an era where some UPL clubs play before empty terraces. This has also come at a time when government has offered to extend Shs 5.5 billion to the UPL clubs for the 2026/27 financial year. The return of fans in stadia is one way of encouraging government to continue investing in local football. For starters, government is constructing and renovating public sports facilities countrywide. This automatically will help the local sports authorities to tap and develop talent. This has also come at a time when Uganda is co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in June next year. A tournament of such magnitude, needs big spectator numbers, in order for the tournament to get the vibe that it deserves. However, a section of pundits have attributed the big crowds to concessions extended on match-day tickets especially from the SC Villa management. The ordinary ticket was reduced to Shs 5,000 from Shs 10,000. Yet, it cannot go without mention that the ordinary ticket prices at KCCA FC and Vipers SC have remained at Shs 10,000 and Shs 20,000 respectively even during this period; and the spectator numbers at these clubs’ games have remained reasonably high. This is why there is need for UPL clubs to own stadiums. The good news is that some local sides like Vipers, KCCA and Kitara have basically solved this equation by owning home grounds. It should be noted that if local clubs are to keep the numbers up, they should reduce ticket prices. In addition, those with venues that have floodlights are even in a better position to make a “killing” because of the fact that they can host games at night, which is convenient for many working class fans. It is easier for them to watch games after they have retired from their daily duties. In order to grow the crowd organically, UPL clubs should also realize the need to play good quality football. This has everything to do with recruiting talented players and quality coaches. Having standard football pitches and ensuring that they create a safe family football environment, to make it easier for vulnerable fans, women and children is a must. CAN SC VILLA RISE AGAIN? In the past, SC Villa’s success hinged on several factors. First and foremost, they had an unrivalled financial war chest. But also, the solid fanbase and the unquenchable thirst for success of the club administration, made a significant difference. You have to go back to the 1980s and 1990s to understand how the Villa foundation was set up, especially after the club finished runners-up to KCCA in the 1981 league championship. Patrick Edward Kawooya had just assumed the Villa leadership and his first strategy was to buy as many top players as possible. With backup from seasoned administrators like Henry Balamaze Lwanga, George Faison Ddamulira, Fred Kawuma, Edward Luyimbazi and Franco Mugabe among others, SC Villa raided rivals’ stables and recruited top players. It is for that reason that the blues registered 14 major titles in 10 years. This set a standard and trend for Villa, which was that if you could not beat them, buy their best players. Kawooya’s immediate successor Mugabe and his team also continued with that spirit making SC Villa a dominant side. KCCA and Express which were SC Villa’s arch-rivals at the time were also not so far off and oftentimes challenged Villa’s buying power in the player market to create a competitive league. For that reason, Omar Mandela, the SC Villa supremo ought to review the club’s policies from the last 40 years. The current SC Villa leadership should be aware that any club worthy of its name must own assets: a stadium, Real Estate and other investments which can make it strong and self-sustaining. Mandela and his team should avoid repeating the same mistakes which were committed by their predecessors who suffered from the big man’s syndrome. hluzige@gmail.comThe post Big crowds at UPL matches points to local football revival appeared first on The Observer.