Former Uganda Cranes international striker Samson Caesar Okhuti scored the third of the three goals as Onduparaka beat Kyetume 3-1 in the FUFA Big League.
Brian Ade and Junior Andama had already scored for the Caterpillars when Okhuti was brought on for Faizal Ssekyanzi in the 75th minute.
Less than 15 minutes on, the striker scored a cracker! He got the third for Onduparaka to all but seal the three points with only two minutes left on the clock.
Arua fans and Westnile fans were jubilant that Onduparaka won their first game, and even happier that Okhuti was on the scoresheet. He’s so loved, and cherished.
For others, they were confused seeing his name on the scoresheet, as they understood he was supposed to be on the touchline instead.
“Our former striker, Samson Ceaser Okhuti returns back home in the capacity of Head Coach to steer the wheel in our quest for a return to UPL,” Onduparaka confirmed in August when announcing his return.
Well, Okhuti is a coach player at Onduparaka – he was officially appointed as the team’s head coach, and was also issued with a player’s license, so he can represent the club as coach and player.
It’s hard to establish how many times Okhuti is paid at Onduparaka when the month ends, but it’s clear he’s playing a number of roles at the club at the same time.
In Okhuti, Onduparaka have a coach, a player and loyal servant. In the coach, the players have a father, a friend and a teacher – a leader who is commanding right from the front.
As the ‘commander in chief’, Okhuti seems to have taken the ‘leading by example’ expression way so personal, literally.
“In training, he doesn’t just order you around to run, he runs along with you,” one player who has worked under him for a while now revealed.
“Actually, he leads the line himself – he runs infront of you, and you have to make sure he doesn’t leave you behind, you have to go at his pace, the player added.
“He’s so friendly to the players, but there’s no room for complacency in his team. If he’s over thirty and can still work so hard like that, then what excuse would a younger player have to justify laziness?”
Without a doubt, Okhuti is an influential football figure in the West Nile region. He’s widely known for his hardwork coupled with determination and discipline.
He played for a number of local community clubs before he finally made his name known nationwide with Ediofe Hills in the top flight.
He went on to play for Express, and is a two-times Uganda Premier League winner. He won the league title with Bunamwaya SC in 2010 and KCCA FC in 2016.
The striker was part of the historical Onduparaka team that earned Uganda Premier League promotion in 2016.
Okhuti had initially retired after captaining Arua Hill to their first ever Big League title, and promotion to the top flight which they achieved unbeaten.
He remained at Arua Hill, but in a different role, as one of the assistants to Livingstone Mbabazi, until August this year when he returned to Onduparaka, where he’s continuing his legacy.
