The Toyota Premio driver who saved Andre Onana from Ugandan fan chaos

Juma Ssemazzi, a driver of a Toyota Premio, played a pivotal role in ensuring Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana made it to Entebbe International Airport amidst chaotic scenes created by enthusiastic Ugandan football fans.

Ssemazzi, who was initially hired to drive Arnold Ebolo, the leader of the Cameroon advance party, found himself at the center of a whirlwind of excitement and confusion as Onana's departure approached.

The Toyota Premio, part of the official Cameroon delegation, became an unlikely lifeline in a tense situation.

According to Ssemazzi, the plan was straightforward: transport the delegation from Mandela National Stadium to the airport.

However, the situation quickly escalated when Onana, who was not initially known to Ssemazzi, needed urgent transport to catch his flight.

“As we were waiting at the stadium, Ebolo asked me to move the car closer to the team buses. That’s when I realized that I would be driving Onana to the airport,” Ssemazzi recounted. “The atmosphere was electric, with fans surrounding the area, and the excitement only grew as Onana arrived.”

The driver faced a significant challenge when he had to navigate through a crowd of fervent fans, many of whom were clamoring for photos and autographs. “The fans were incredible but made the situation chaotic. Onana was delayed by the crowd and needed to reach the airport quickly,” Ssemazzi said.

Despite the difficulties, he managed to get Onana to the airport in 35 minutes, just in time for his Brussels Airlines flight.

Ssemazzi’s quick thinking and determination helped Onana escape the fan frenzy unscathed.

The Manchester United star, grateful for the timely assistance, attempted to offer Ssemazzi a tip, though the airport’s payment facilities were not immediately available.

Onana will return to Uganda on October 15 for a match against Kenya’s Harambee Stars, and fans will have another chance to see him in action.