There is no denying the fact that Uganda has a lot talent especially when it comes to soccer but amazingly, some has remained un developed and the rest has been lost or wasted.
The one available can be attributed to hard work and love for the game.
In this article, I unveil Uganda’s lost and wasted talent.
Most has been lost in the United States of
America on studies, others on work and the rest just wasted due to poor nurturing. Below is a list of players who would have made a big difference on Uganda’s national teams but for some reason, things didn’t go as many thought.
Aggrey Bigala: The former SC Villa centre back was part of the Uganda Kobs team that finished fourth at the 1999 All Africa Games in South Africa. He was as a hard as a rock at the heart of defence both for club and country but after the games, he went to US for studies and never played serious football again. He featured for the Cranes in the 2000 AFCON qualifiers.
Arthur Byansiima: Like Bigala, Byansiima was a promising defender who could play all positions in the defence. His game reading, tackling, heading and all attributes as a defender were there for all to see. He was also part of that Kobs golden generation. Went to US for Studies and he stays there till now though he makes frequent visits to Uganda.
Jamil Kyambadde: Current SC Villa tactician once described him as the most coveted player of his generation. For those who managed to get a glimpse of him in action, you will agree that the former Express FC and KCC FC midfielder is one of the most talented midfielders this country has ever produced. He had a sweet left foot and made playing football look easy. He however never stayed on the football scene for long having failed to look after himself well. He tried to launch a return to the game last season at Proline FC but it was too little too late.
Mike Azira: He is a product of the once famous Jogoo Young that produced the likes of Bengo, Muganga, Nsumba and the like but Azira was special. He played for the Villa senior side for only two seasons and went for studies in the US where he is still right now. He left the club in 2008 after captaining it for a season. Azira’s football brain was up there with he best. He was an all rounder who could play any where on the pitch. His close control, vision, passing and game reading were fantastic.
Eric Kamya: The midfielder also went to US for books and has never returned. To many who watched him play at Villa, you can agree with me that the lanky midfielder had all the attributes of an excellent midfielder. Most Villa fans had given him the tag of the “New Edgar Watson” given his playing style.
Hamza Ssemwogerere: Dubbed Messi for his drillibling skills, pace and ability to beat his man with ease. Hamza was a promising left sided midfielder who would dribble past a forest of legs in defence while at Express FC. He was seen as one of the players to solve Uganda’s creativity issues but he opted out of football for books. He never played football again after completing his course at MUK.
Geoffrey Bukohore: He was part of the Uganda Kobs team in 1999. He later went for studies in the US and never returned to play competitive football again. Bukohore was a no nonsense defender that many thought would make centre back position on the national team his own but it never came to pass. He is currently a columnist with Saturday Vision.
Baker Kigongo: This boy had a sweet left foot. The former Masaka Secondary School student featured for super league clubs Police FC, Express FC and Masaka LC. He had the ability to beat his marker with ease, could make a perfect cross and was a specialist when it came to dead balls. He opted out of football for personal reasons. He tried to make a comeback last season at Masaka LC FC but his fitness levels denied him a constant slot on the first team and retired from the game.
Tom Ssemwogerere: Some fans had nicknamed him John Terry for his defensive abilities while at SC Villa. The young centre back had a rare brain for a defender. He was in the mould of highly rated talented defenders like Rio Ferdinand, Allesandro Nesta and Fernando Hierro. He was never mechanical like most defenders. He left Villa for Rwanda in mid 2000s and disappeared till now.
Others are Moses Aduny, Henry Kabeta, Eric Obua and Stephen Nsereko.
