For over a decade now, Uganda’s top flight super League has not produced a top scorer with 20+ goals. It last happened in 2002 when Hassan Mubiru while playing for Express F.C netted 22 goals to top the scorers charts. Since then, no golden boot winner has managed that feat with the highest since then being Hassan Mubiru again who scored just 16 despite playing only part of the league still.
Other winners then included David Kiwanuka (URA F.C) and Robert Ssentongo (Simba) with 10 goals in 2004. Martin Muwanga (Police) and Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCC) with 8 in 2005, Dan Walusimbi (Police) 15 goals in 2006, Bruno Olobo (Police) and Brian Umony (KCC) 15 goals in 2007/08 and most recently Diego Hamis Kiiza (URA) 14 goals in 2010/11.
This is an insult to strikers like Hassan Mubiru – who records show that he scored 174 goals between 1998 and 2004, Magid Musisi who top scored in late 80s and early 90s with an average of 27 goals a season, Jimmy Kirunda who scored 32 goals in one league season and most recently Andrew Fimbo Mukasa who scored a record 45 league goals in 1999. Goals drying up has not only affected the quality of the league but even the performance of the national team. The last time the country had a formidable and reliable strike force was when Hassan Mubiru and Andrew Mukasa were in their prime. Since then, we have had no reliable strikers but who is to blame?
THE CLUB COACHES:
I have watched a number of games and training sessions of the local clubs but you rarely see any coach trying to impart skills on to strikers on how to improve their game. Again, these coaches limit the freedom of their strikers while on pitch. In Uganda, you rarely see a shot out of the 18 yard box from a striker. Not that they can’t do it but coaches limit them. Perhaps they forget it’s a source of goals too. European strikers like Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovich are fond of striking from any where on the pitch just because their managers let them do. May be its because most of super league clubs are either coached by former midfielders and defenders save for URA who are coached by Isabirye Alex – a striker in his playing days.
LACK OF CREATIVITY:
If you critically watch Ugandan games, its very rare for a team to create numerous scoring chances for strikers. This is a blame i put to coaches also. Why not teach the midfielder to play penetrative passes? Wingers to cross perfectly? Some may not agree with me but a cross in football is a pass. There is no way we can argue that we are short on talent in those departments when the likes of Moses Ndaula, Noah Ssemakula (VILLA), Gift Ali (PROLINE), Nsumba, Bengo, Said Kyeyune (URA), Micheal Birungi (KCC), Muganga Ronald, Kizito Luwagga, Jjuuko Murushid (BUNAMWAYA), Kivumbi Martin (MASAKA L.C), Zinda Hussein (UTODA), Maxwell Okello and Akena Brian (Maroons) and many other potential players are playing in the league. The coaches just don’t give them the perfect lectures to do what can help their teams.
With enough creativity from midfield, i doubt strikers like Eddie Mubiru (KCC), Herman Wasswa (VILLA), Abege George (MAROONS), Nyanzi Makumbi (WATER), Muwanga Martin (BUNA), Robert Ssentongo (URA) and the like can fail to score goals. There is no doubt the likes of Hassan Mubiru, Andrew Mukasa, Phillip Omondi, Magid Musisi were classic but then these guys had constant supply from left, right and centre of the pitch. Who of the current crop of promising strikers can’t blossom playing alongside Magumba, Kyambadde, Ssozi, Ssimbwa, Mia Mia, Bogere and Obadia among others? May be clubs can employ experts to coach in specific departments to end this scorin crisis. At the moment though, the biggest burden is on to coaches to improve their tactics.
