When the current leadership of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) assumed office in 2005, they promised to ensure that the Uganda Cranes qualifies for Africa’s biggest soccer show piece; Africa Nations Cup (AFCON). Sadly, it has never happened as the Cranes’ long absence from AFCON still rages on. Under Lawrence Mulindwa’s leadership, Uganda has missed qualification for the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013 editions. In simple terms, the president’s promise of taking Uganda to AFCON has failed on five occasions but it’s not by surprise.
Despite all the investment by the federation into all these qualification campaigns, it has persistently failed to invest in youth structures and perhaps ensure that the national elite league has the capacity to produce the players that can spur the Cranes to AFCON.
Does the federation expect to reap from where they didn’t sow? Astonishing!!.
It has been said over and over again that invest in youth structures and the end product will be there for all to see and fully appreciate. It’s a fact that Uganda is a den for great talents and the likes of Ibrahim Ssekagya, David Obua, and Nestroy Kizito, are just but a sample.
Like FUFA, the clubs are also to blame for failure to set up structures and the federation has gone on to weaken these clubs by dividing them; SC Villa and Express FC are prime examples.
“Lubowa (Asuman, the Fufa technical director) and co should have given lead on club management. Now clubs are divided, we have two leagues. Clubs are also to blame. They must also have structures”, former Cranes Coach Mike Mutebi asserts.
It should be noted that the 2012/13 season in Uganda has been full of controversy with two national leagues (FSL and USL) running concurrently.
“There is no agenda, we have a pool of over 400 players in the league but we cannot pick the best 100 because these players simply lack the basic foundation”, Mutebi adds.
Following the sacking of Cranes coach Bobby Williamson last week, the question on many a Ugandan lips is about his replacement but it shouldn’t be question at the moment. In my opinion, the biggest questions we should ask at the moment are; what are we doing locally to grow the technical skills of our players? What are we doing to improve the technical standards of our coaches in the league, youth structures (academies) who spend most of their time with these players before they are set for national teams?
Instead of Fufa concentrating on failing club football at all costs, they must ensure these clubs incorporate youth ranks in their programmes like SC Villa did a few years with Jogoo Young, Express FC had Wembley and KCC FC had City Lads. It’s no surprise that most of the technically skilled players in the super league currently have their roots in Jogoo Young. Yasin Mugabi, Erisha Ssekisambu, Oscar Agaba, Nsumba Augustine, Brian Bwete (URA FC), Robert Lopidia (Proline FC), Jjuuko Yusuf (Express FC), Isaac Kirabira, Steven Bengo, Ronald Muganga, Isaac Muleme, Sulait Luyima (SC Villa), Joseph Mpande (Vipers SC) and many more. Add Cranes striker Emmanuel Okwi (Etoile Du Sahel) and Chrizestom Ntambi to the list and you will clearly see what am talking about. Sadly, Jogoo Young doesn’t exist at the moment as leadership at SC Villa sold it to big league side Baza Holdings (current Jogoo Baza).
Coach Mike Mutebi once said that Uganda is full of naturally talented players but deprived of skill and technique. Take this example, South America has great natural talent and enjoy excellent technical development and growth. Europe has less natural talent but rely on classroom lectures for the less talent they have. Just imagine if Uganda had the technique and skill of those guys, our own Ibrahim Ssekagya would be mentioned in the same sentences as the Rio Ferdinands, Allesandro Nestas and Thiago Silvas of this world.
Thankfully, the federation recently restricted un qualified coaches from handling super league clubs but the question arises; what have they done to build the capacity of coaches? Besides, do we have the right coaches to handle the youth right from the academies?
Like it or not, majority of our players are not good enough technically like those from elite countries in Africa despite the immense talent. There is no denying the fact that we have lots of talent but are immature in tactic and technique regardless of how much time they have spent playing the beautiful game. This is the best explanation why most of our players can’t make it in Europe’s elite leagues. How many have been dropped back home in the recent past? I won’t disclose them but the list is endless.
We must copy a leaf from football developed nations where a child at the age of 10 is taught basics of the game like passing, throws, set pieces and rules of the game among others. As they grow older, they are then taught systems of play, tactics and overall game play. Most of those players are not as talented as our boys here but the foundation makes the difference. It’s high time we built capacity to impart such skills into our boys at a young age.
FIFA’s top ranking nations Spain and Germany have over 45,000 fully licensed federations accredited youth coaches doing the job all over the country. How many do we have here? Why should the federation only concentrate on the national team? What is the work of the technical director at FUFA? The last time Uganda had an active technical director in Mr. Günter Zintel, technically gifted players like Jamil Kyambadde, Hakim Magumba, Hassan Mubiru, Phillip Ssozi, David Obua, Ibrahim Ssekagya, Livingstone Mbabazi and Phillip Obwiny emerged. I wonder what the current director has contributed to football since he was appointed!!!!
The problem with Ugandan football administrators is taking criticism with heavy hearts. Criticism is meant to correct the wrongs and make weak links stronger. Unfortunately, our leaders take these critiques as saboteurs. Our leaders must accept that we are wrong and listen to those we think don’t matter in society.
To Fufa, Football does not start or end with the Uganda Cranes.
