Name: Steven Bogere
Nickname: "Bogie"
Country:
UgandaClub: Tobacco Bugembe (1982-1987), SC Villa (1988-1990)
Position: *AMF, CMF
Side: RF/BS
Age: 22-25 years (??/??/1965)
Height: 172 cm *
Weight: 72 kg *
Attack: 78
Defence: 46
Balance: 71
Stamina: 80
Top Speed: 85
Acceleration: 87
Response: 73
Agility: 88
Dribble Accuracy: 84
Dribble Speed: 85
Short Pass Accuracy: 85
Short Pass Speed: 77
Long Pass Accuracy: 75
Long Pass Speed: 72
Shot Accuracy: 71
Shot Power: 76
Shot Technique: 73
Free Kick Accuracy: 63
Curling: 67
Header: 61
Jump: 70
Technique: 83
Aggression: 79
Mentality: 79
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 83
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Standard
CARDS:
P05 - Mazing Run
S02 - Passer
S15 - Shoulder Feint Skills
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Playmaking - Passing
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
INFO:
Bogere is a former attacking or central midfielder. His career started in 1981 with second division team Millers Jinja after he was spotted at the Jinja Secondary School in the late 1970s. He signed for Tobacco Bugembe one year later and played there until 1987. He then had a short but successful spell at SC Villa between 1988 and 1990. Afterwards, he had brief experiences with Spear Motors Kampala in 1990, Nile Breweries Jinja in 1991, once again SC Villa the same year, and finally second division team Villa International Kampala until his retirement in 1994. Bogere was first called-up to represent Uganda in 1985 and made his debut in 1986. Since then, he became Uganda's undisputed n°8. It's unclear how many games he played for the national team, but he played for them at least from 1986 to 1991, year when he was appointed team captain for the CECAFA Cup and the AFCON qualifiers. He earned not less than 11 caps and scored at least 3 goals for Uganda, one against Cameroon and two against Zanzibar, all three in 1987.
Arguably the most technically gifted player of his generation in Uganda, Bogere was never selfish as he could pass the ball with ease in tights spaces, was always a forward thinker and could be a match winner. He was calm under pressure, capable of drawing opponents and creating different options for his teammates to score. Bogere was a short player who used his exceptional skills to fight his way to the top during an era dominated by much taller players. And such brilliant were his abilities that he made things look easy and made his teammates play well. The Ugandan midfielder wasn't even the kind of dribbler who simply moved past his opponents: he danced past and over them, faking a drop of a shoulder, a turn of a header, or a pass to a contrasting direction. The late commentator Francis Oija of Radio Uganda used to say « from Bogere to Bogere » to describe the midfielder's dummies. It's widely said in Uganda that the country has never got a player as agile and talented as Bogere and for this reason, many believe, that Uganda continues to lack creativity in the final third of the pitch.
In 1987, Bogere formed a fantastic midfield partnership with Express FC's Paul Nkata when Uganda faced Cameroon in a do-or-die AFCON qualifying match. Bogere, alongside Phillip Omondi and Paul Hasule, tormented his opponents and scored the first goal in a 3-1 win. Unfortunately, the final result wasn't enough as Uganda needed to win at least 4-0.
In 1989, he was a key player for the Uganda team that reached the final of the Peace Games in November. Only a few weeks later, he was once against the star of the team at the CECAFA Cup where he amused the crowds with his ball distribution and dribbling skills in his usual attacking midfielder role. Bogere was then instrumental one year later during the following CECAFA Cup which was retained by Uganda. But his combination with George Nsimbe, Sam Ssimbwa and Majid Musisi was especially crucial in the 1989 edition that saw Uganda winning the cup twelve years after their last title.
1990 was also the year where Bogere received his first red card: SC Villa had recently won the league but lost 3-0 against Kampala City in the cup final, and due to his frustrations, the Ugandan midfielder shoved opposing striker Issa Ssekatawa.
Bogere continued having great performances until late in his career. Another one of his memorable matches was the 1992 AFCON qualifier won 2-1 by Uganda against Zaire: the match was 1-1 when Bogere decided, as usual, to take matters into his feet. At one point, he picked the ball in his own half, dribbled past opponents across the centre circle, and eventually assisted Musisi who then beat the goalkeeper.
In a 2014 interview, the former player described himself as an attacking midfielder who has his best qualities in dribbling and speed. His philosophy was « the ball has to move on the ground ». Bogere also recalled his selflessness during the 1989 CECAFA Cup final against Malawi as he beat the remaining defenders and passed the ball to Majid Musisi who only had to tap it in, but the striker believed that Bogere deserved to score and so passed the ball back; understandably, the midfielder wasn't expecting it, and so the ball went out. Luckily, Uganda eventually won on penalties.