By: Uwizera Plan
After playing to a goalless draw against defending champions, She Corporates, on match day eight of the 2022/23 FUFA Women Super League on the morning of Sunday 12th, November 2022 at MUBS, Rines SS WFC shifted their minds and paid a surprise visit to one of the best women football journalists, Mr Mugabi Geofrey.
The Kiddawalime Media Officer, who also serves as Gugudde TV sports presenter, will never forget 17th July 2022 as the day when he experienced one of the worst and most terrible situations in his life that has kept him on and off the hospital bed.
Initially, Mr Geofrey picked up what would be termed as a ‘simple fracture’ while playing football at Wankulukuku, but the simple fracture turned into a wild injury that required him to do leg surgery two times, both being unsuccessful in one of the medical centers in Kasangati.
After the two surgeries , Mugabi’s condition worsened, which forced medical officers at the medical center to refer him to a big and better orthopedics hospital for further management, which he has done up to date.
After consulting several orthopedic doctors from different hospitals, of which some of them advised him to have his leg cut off, Mr Geofrey refused, not until he met one of senior orthopedic officers from Mulago who assured him that his leg can be saved on a condition that he first does some body and leg nerve tests to determine how the body was standing, something that the Rines’ fan did.
On a good note, the results returned as negative, and this excited the TV Presenter, giving him hope to continue fighting for his leg. As of now, his health seems to be improving bit by bit.
Besides this, Mr Mugabi had more to smile about on the afternoon of Sunday 13th, November 2022, when players of Rines SS WFC, where he first worked as their media officer, led by the team manager, Mr Bright Nyanzi, and the team captain, Naggayi Eva, surprised him with a visit in Ndejje, Makindye Sub County.
The Busiro assistant coach (Nyanzi) couldn’t hide his excitement as he found his former colleague at Rines and a big fan of the club in an improving state, which gave courage and hope that one day Mr Mugabi will walk again.
“First of all, I want to thank God for having enabled us to travel safely to this place in Ndejje. We decided, as a team to dedicate the three games, namely against She MAK, Gafford Ladies, and She Coperates to Mugabi, and God has been on our side, giving us two wins and one draw. So we thank him for that,” Mr Nyanzi said.
“So, we have decided to bring those points to you, and we continue to pray to the Almighty God to heal you, and we [hope to] see you again back on your legs, holding a camera, covering ladies football in the country,” Mr Nyanzi added.
“We have not come with anything big, but we leave you with our prayers, and we believe our prayers will make a lot of difference in your life,” Mr Nyanzi said in conclusion.
The Bukumero-born Mugabi couldn’t hide his happiness amdist the pain he is going through, as he thanked them (Rines contingent) having been the first FWSL team to pay him a visit.
“I want to thank Mr Bright and the team. When I had just joined the journalism world, he helped and guided me on how to do things and also giving me a chance to work with his team, Rines, and made me enter the sports system, Junior, as Mr Geofrey is commonly known, said .
“In the system, I met very many people, especially from the ladies football fraternity, who have stood and been with me in my sickness,” Junior added.
“I even got a chance to meet international people who have also contributed a lot towards [treatment for] my sickness, but this was all because I met Mr Bright Nyanzi,” Junior noted with gratitude.
“So, as I conclude, I once again want to thank you for becoming the first league team to visit me and loving me, and I also request and pray to God to fulfill the club’s values and goals,” Junior heartily added.
Mr Mugabi is also a very strong fan for Fustal, especially in Uganda.