Keni Saidi Extends SC Villa Stay

Ugandan Premier League giants SC Villa have retained the services of goalkeeper Keni Saidi by extending his contract for a further two seasons.

The 20-year-old, who moved to the Jogoos from Proline FC at the beginning of 2018/19 season, has been the first-choice stopper for the past two seasons at Villa Park.

SC Villa confirmed the deal on Thursday in a statement signed by the club’s public relations officer, Bernard Ewalu Olupot.

“We are excited to announce that Saidi Keni has put pen to paper on a new contract, which will keep at SC Villa until January 2022. The contract has been signed with the option to extend it for another year,” reads part of the statement.

Keni has been a transfer target for several African clubs having played 23 Uganda Premier League games, recording 8 clean sheets and conceding 19 goals.

“I am happy to commit my future to this great club because as a young boy growing up, I dreamed of playing for one of the great clubs of Uganda, and they don’t come any greater than SC Villa,” the young shot-stopper said.

“At this point in time, there is no better place for me to further my career than at this great club. It is a relief to finally get the paperwork out of the way so I can focus on doing what I love the most – which is football,” he added.

“It is somewhat unfortunate that there is not much football going on at the moment but I am working hard to ensure that as soon as the league returns, I am in top shape,” he concluded.

SC Vila manager Edward Kaziba added; “I am happy that Keni has committed himself to SC Villa because here he is in safe hands- so to speak.

“He is a great shot-stopper and there is no better place for him to harness and display his skills than here with us. If the country has not yet noticed that he is one of the best keepers on the land, Keni is about to show them. The boy is on the right path.”

Villa finished third with 46 points from 25 games after the league season was ended prematurely because of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.