SC Villa head coach Zeljko Kovacevic has appealed to the club’s passionate supporters to temper their expectations with patience as the Jogoos embark on a new chapter built around youth and long-term development.
The Serbian tactician made the plea during a meeting with supporters at the club’s home, East High School in Kulambiro, on Sunday, where he spoke candidly about the challenges and possibilities that accompany Villa’s ongoing rebuilding exercise.
Kovacevic was particularly moved by the reception from the supporters, describing the size and strength of the Villa fraternity as something that has surpassed what he was initially led to expect.
“When I came here, I was told that Villa has many fans, but what I have seen is much bigger — Villa has a great family, and I am proud and grateful to be part of it,” he told the fans that converged on Sunday.
The coach subsequently called on the supporters to remain firmly behind the team while allowing the young squad sufficient time to mature and develop into a competitive unit.
“I humbly ask for your continued support and patience. We all know that we have started a new project, and working with young players takes time. With your support, patience, and belief, we can build something special together.”
Kovacevic’s first campaign in charge offered encouraging signs of what the project could eventually become. He guided Villa to victory in the FUFA Super 8 and also steered the club to the Uganda Cup final, where they ultimately fell to Kitara at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
The Jogoos, however, will not have the opportunity to defend their Super 8 crown after their elimination by NEC in the competition’s finale, with the encounter exposing the difference that experience, composure, and maturity can make in high-pressure fixtures.
That challenge has been compounded by a dramatic overhaul of the playing squad during the current transfer window.
Villa have seen a significant number of established figures depart, including Diego Misi Ssemugera, Charles Lwanga, Elvis Ngonde, goalkeepers Jean Brady Wokorach and Norman Agunfindru, right-back Frank Mulimi and midfielder Ali Bayo. The club has also had to navigate the heartbreaking loss of captain David Owori, whose death has left a profound void within the team and its wider community.
In contrast, Villa’s recruitment has largely tilted towards youthful prospects, many of whom are stepping into top-flight football with limited experience. Of the new arrivals, only John Asiimwe and Hassan Matovu boast previous Premier League exposure, underlining the scale of the transformation taking place at the club.
Kovacevic is therefore preparing for a season in which immediate results may have to coexist with the more gradual process of moulding raw talent into seasoned performers.
For a club of Villa’s stature and expectations, that transition is unlikely to be painless. But Kovacevic believes the patience of the supporters, combined with their unwavering backing, can provide the foundation required to turn the fledgling project into something enduring.
The message to the Jogoos faithful is clear: the new Villa may not be finished yet, but the coach wants them to believe in what is being built.
