"I nearly ran mad" - Former Cranes Star reflects on injury that ruined his chance to play with Adebayor

Former Uganda Cranes defender Savio Kabugo has opened up about how a career-threatening injury impacted his mental health, nearly driving him to madness.

Leading up to 2014, Kabugo had become a prominent figure in Ugandan football, known for his defensive skills and physicality, which earned him a spot on the national team. He played for major clubs such as SC Villa and KCCA.

In September 2014, while playing for the national team, he sustained an injury, and his last club appearance that year was in December against Bright Stars, a match he managed to play after taking painkillers.

In a recent interview, Kabugo shared that he underestimated the severity of his injury, which ultimately cost him the opportunity to play in Europe.

The 30-year-old defender revealed that at the time of his injury, he was in touch with several top football agents in Europe, including one who represented former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

To his dismay, the agents informed him that his injury was too severe for them to proceed with plans to secure a contract with European clubs.

Kabugo recounted how the news devastated him, leading him to abandon football and turn to alcohol for solace.

"I nearly ran mad because when I got that injury, I had made connections with some big agents, including those linked to Emmanuel Adebayor, who were interested in taking me to Europe. I had been playing on injections before. But then the agents told me they couldn't take me because my injury was too serious. I left football and started drinking heavily," Kabugo said.

During this dark period, one person remained by his side—his wife, who helped him regain his composure.

"Fortunately, my partner stood by me. I was on the verge of losing it, but she helped me calm down."

Kabugo's Comeback

Just when things seemed bleak for Kabugo, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of then URA coach Ndugwa.

"One day, URA FC reached out to me. The coach (Ndugwa) expressed his belief that I could still play football. He took me to town, bought me new clothes, and treated me to a meal at Serena Hotel."

This encounter led to a second chance for Kabugo, who was offered a contract that paid him Shs7 million, far more than the Shs100,000 he thought he would receive.

"When they asked me how much I wanted to be paid, I said Shs100,000 because I hadn't had any money for a long time. But the club chairman surprised me by saying they would pay me Shs7 million. I was astonished and couldn't believe it. They invited me to the office three days later and handed me Shs7 million in cash, and I started training the next morning."

From that point on, Kabugo was able to revive his career, leading to stints at Proline and SC Villa.

In 2019, he moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo to play for AS Vita Club before eventually signing with Ethiopian second division club Sebeta City.

In 2022, he transferred to Jwaneng Galaxy FC in Botswana. Last season, he played for Lugazi FC in the Uganda Super League.