Ex- Uganda Cranes skipper Ibrahim Sekagya announced his retirement from the beautiful game as player on February, 12 this year after 20 years of a glittering career.
Sekagya who began his career at Equatorial FC ended it at MLS giant side New York Red Bulls.
Without doubt, Sekagya is the Uganda’s biggest football export and perhaps among the greatest the country has produced.
Meanwhile, Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga caught up with the soft spoken ex-KCC FC star at his base in New York and in short but detailed interview, Sekagya reveals a lot including the best players he has played with (both locally and internationally), a reported brawl with Andrew Mukasa at the All Africa Games in 1999 in South Africa, how he reached this far and why he decided to hang the boots.
You announced your retirement a week ago. Why now?
Yes! I did announce my retirement on February 2, 2015. For some reasons, I felt it was the time and the offer that came my way, was worth retiring as it was a long term thing. (Note: Sekagya was offered a coaching role as part of the technical team at the New York Red Bulls ‘B’ side)
How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as one calm, down to earth, humid man who hustled so hard to make it throughout his career.
What is your greatest regret in your twenty year illustrious career?
Depending on the situation may be, but as regarding my 20 year career, I have no regrets especially, regarding my soccer path I took, because soccer has always been my number one savior. As it catered for me from the age of nine, this talent covered my school fees till when i became a professional.
Who are some of the best players you’ve played with (both on the national team and club level?
On the national team, it should be Willy Kyambadde, David Obua, the late Wilson Gayi (RIP) and Magid Musisi, (RIP), Andy Lule (Kobs Captain in 1999), Abubaker Tabula, Andrew Mukasa, Arthur Byansima, Geoffery Bukhore, Aggrey Bigala, Musoke Lawrence, Derrick Muyanja and Jackson Mayanja the list is endless.
At international (club level), the list is endless too but to mention a few; Thierry Henri, Tim Cahill, Bradley Wright Phillips, Peggy Luyindula, Alexander Zickler, Niko Kovac (now coach of Croatia national team) Miyamoto former Japanese captain, Alex the Brazilian /Japanese, Mark Janko, Sascha Ilic & Dennis German among others.
Talk about your experience with the Uganda Kobs at the All Africa Games in South Africa in 1999 and the reported bust up with Andrew Mukasa?
We were all young boys by then and we were all desperately in need of that victory. So when Andrew (Mukasa) deliberately refused to score in front of the goal, everyone reacted & we tried to calmly ask him, why he was doing this to the team. He just told us we were there (At the finals) because of him (his goals) and that it was him to decide whether we qualify or not and by refusing to score that goal, he had said no to our victory. Well, at that moment, everyone was boiling.
By the way, it’s that time that we were seen by scouts him inclusive but he refused to take the offer to go with me out of anger.
But putting that aside, just like everyone has his flaws, he was such a good guy that deserved the best for his career.
You’ve faced many opponents but what are your picks for the toughest you’ve faced?
Of course there are tough opponents but the moment I could get on pitch, I always forgot what their value was with “as in toughness”. May be that’s what always kept me calm, because i always looked at each opponent as a possible one to defend which makes it difficult to point out any player.
I know there a lot of people that have helped you reach this level but who are some you owe your career too?
There is among others the late Abubakar Mukodo (RIP). He saw the talent in me at a very young age and made me believe I could get some where one day.
The other is Sheikh Jamil Kakeeto (formerly at Naggalama and Oxford Kawempe) who saw me as a player worth a price. Then Alburiex Giacome the man who saw that talent in me from the all Africa games in South Africa and took me to Italy to pave my professional way.
There is Gustavo Mascardi the man who restored my hope after paperwork failed in Italy (Sampdoria). He then took me to Argentina & volunteered to pay me until I ever penetrate Europe.
My wife who has been and still a fundamental pillar, i have always leaned on in the toughest moments all throughout my career and most of all, my beautiful Late mum (R.I.P) who protected me throughout my childhood tough moments and most of all for having brought me to this beautiful world, taught me the do and don’ts that have made me the person I am today.
So much to celebrate about your career but what are your top picks (Greatest moments).
So much indeed! But some of my pick moments were: My debut goal when I scored against River Plate and the goal made history in the whole of Argentina. My dual championship under my Captaincy with Red Bull Salzburg in 2012. There is also my debut on the Kobs squad plus the first time I played in the Ugandan topflight league as a professional player at State House FC.
But above all, the day I joined paid ranks when KCC FC officially released me.
Not so many Ugandan players have achieved what you’ve had. What is the secret behind all this success?
Well, I would personally say the secrets behind my success are patience, calmness, discipline, consistency, persistence and most of all having faith. Then may be other factors follow.
Now into coaching, why coaching and where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?
Well, anyone who has been on pitch and playing the game as his profession, wouldn’t love to Desert the field without any qualifications.
This does not necessarily mean you are automatically going to become a coach but it does give you a wide range of ideas, and since you chose the game to be your profession, then why finish it without any clear proof that you didn’t have the skills only practically, but you also have them in your head theoretically? It also broadens your mind from pitch to other involved ideas in the study because you get exposed to different unknown ideas. I see myself in the next 5-10yrs traveling places looking for the available talents to groom under my collected knowledge and ideas.
Any message to your fans especially down in Uganda?
I would like to thank my fans and well-wishers for having supported and loved me ENDLESSLY. They are partly the reason, why I have always struggled so hard throughout my whole career not to disappoint them and i request them to continue loving the beautiful game. We need back that spirit, moral & love of the game of 1990’s.
