The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Move to Gor Mahia
The political turmoil in Uganda in 1979, as various forces toppled Ugandan President Idi Amin forced Ayeiko to flee to Kenya where playing for Gor Mahia, arguably the biggest football club in Kenya at the time, was like a homecoming for Ayieko.. He enjoyed a colourful spell at the Nairobi-based Gor Mahia where he won the Kenyan league title in 1979 and two CECAFA club trophies in 1980 and 1981. As was the norm back then, Ayieko did coaching stints after his playing career at Gor Mahia from 1979 to 1983.
He coached Benham Holdings briefly before returning to Uganda in 1985. In the same year, he was appointed in interim capacity as manager at SC Villa.
Soon, SC Villa appointed Polly Ouma, with whom Ayieko had fled into exile with, as full coach. The duo won the league championship and the Kakungulu cup in 1986, and the following year retained the league – a feat that won Ayieko a B’ coaching license from Germany.
As coaching assistant at Villa both under Ouma and Geof Hudson, Ayieko continued to win league titles and other domestic trophies. In 1992, Hudson left and Ayieko became full coach for the first time at SC Villa. He won two league titles and guided SC Villa to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) finals in 1992, his first year in the job.
Moses Basena, the current Cranes coach and former SC Villa player says he did not watch Ayieko play but he heard glorious tales about him. “He was such a talent, he was really tremendous, I think he still holds the record of shooting from the centre when he was playing at KCC,” Basena told The Independent.
Basena played under Ayieko when the latter was an assistant coach and when he assumed the full mantle. “He was my coach at Villa and he was such a joyous and good person.”
Managing Cranes
Ayieko’s big break came when he was appointed Cranes coach in 1995. His and Ouma’s fate seemed intertwined because he replaced Ouma who had just resigned from the position. However the Cranes did not perform as expected at the CECAFA games and he quit the next year.
Managing The Cranes remained the high point of his coaching stab but he also had stints at Kakira FC. At the time of his death, Ayieko was the Sports Officer at Kakira Sugar Corporation. Ayieko succumbed to heart complications on Nov 19 and is survived by eight children.
