Moses Nsereko

{{Short description|Ugandan football player, manager, and executive (died 1991)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Moses Nsereko

| position = Midfielder

| death_date = 15 September 1991

| death_place = Kololo, Kampala, Uganda

| clubs1 = Kampala City Council

| years1 = 1970–1984

| nationalteam1 = Uganda

| nationalyears1 = 1973–1982

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| youthclubs1 = Kampala City Council

| youthyears1 =

| managerclubs1 = Kampala City Council

| manageryears1 = 1979–1987

| birth_date =

}}

Moses Nsereko (died 15 September 1991) was a Ugandan football player, manager, and executive.{{Cite web |last=Zziwa |first=Hassan Badru |date=15 September 2021 |title=Nsereko remains a key fixture 30 years on |url=https://observer.ug/sports/nsereko-remains-a-key-fixture-30-years-on/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=The Observer}} During his playing career as a midfielder, he played for the Uganda national team at the 1976 and 1978 African Cup of Nations.{{Cite web|title=Moses Nsereko|url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/moses-nsereko-984433|access-date=27 January 2022|website=BeSoccer}}

Club and managerial career

Nsereko joined Kampala City Council (KCC) as a ball boy in the late 1960s, but regularly featured for the club's second team.{{Cite web|date=15 September 2021|title=Nsereko murder still unsolved 30 years on|url=https://football256.com/nsereko-murder-still-unsolved-30-years-on/|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Football256}} It wasn't until 1970 that he was able to wear the "famous" yellow jersey of KCC. By 1971, he was a starter on KCC's team.{{Cite web|date=15 September 2021|title=Nsereko murder still unsolved 30 years on|url=https://football256.com/nsereko-murder-still-unsolved-30-years-on/|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Football256}} Initially deployed as right winger by coach Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, Nsereko shifted in his favoured central midfield role with time. As a player at KCC, he helped the club win the Uganda National League in 1976 and 1977, and the CECAFA Club Cup in 1978.

In 1979, Nsereko was named player-coach at KCC following the departure of Bidandi Ssali. As a player-coach and head coach at KCC, Nsereko won the Uganda Super League in 1981, 1983, and 1985, and the Uganda Cup in 1979, 1980, 1982, and 1984. After a disappointing 1986 season, he resigned in 1987.

International career

Nsereko was a youth international before playing for the Uganda national team.{{Cite web|date=15 September 2021|title=Nsereko murder still unsolved 30 years on|url=https://football256.com/nsereko-murder-still-unsolved-30-years-on/|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Football256}} He made eight appearances and scored one goal for Uganda at the 1976 and 1978 African Cup of Nations,{{Cite web|title=Moses Nsereko|url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/moses-nsereko-984433|access-date=27 January 2022|website=BeSoccer}} and was selected in the latter tournament's Team of the Tournament after reaching the final.{{Cite web|last=Zziwa|first=Hassan Badru|date=5 June 2011|title=Flashback: Moses Nsereko - the master planner|url=https://www.observer.ug/component/content/article/44-sports/sports/13717-flashback-moses-nsereko-the-master-planner|access-date=27 January 2022|website=The Observer}} Nsereko won the CECAFA Cup in 1973, 1976, and 1977; he missed the final penalty in a shoot-out defeat to Tanzania in the 1974 competition.

Executive career

In April 1989, Nsereko was voted General Secretary of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA). Under the leadership of President John Semanobe, he worked to create football structures. Thanks to the revamp of youth football development, the Uganda national team won back-to-back CECAFA Cup titles in 1989 and 1990. Nsereko held his position at FUFA until his death in 1991.

Death

On 15 September 1991, Nsereko was brutally murdered outside his home at Wampewo flats in Kololo, Kampala.{{Cite web |last=Musoke Isa |first=Nsereko |date=2021 |title=Remembering Uganda's Slain Sports Personalities |url=https://nimsportuganda.com/remembering-ugandas-slain-sports-personalities/ |access-date=2 February 2022 |website=Nimsport Uganda}} The unknown gunmen were never brought to justice. Nsereko left behind two widows and over seven children.

Nsereko's death sent shock waves throughout Ugandan football and particularly KCC supporters.{{Cite web|date=15 September 2021|title=Nsereko murder still unsolved 30 years on|url=https://football256.com/nsereko-murder-still-unsolved-30-years-on/|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Football256}}