Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević is a man who seldom surprises.
Embarking on yet another qualification campaign, two with the Cranes actually; Micho aims to recalibrate a familiar script for Ugandans when it comes to this stage.
“We are having sleepless nights,” expressed Micho at the FUFA weekly press conference.
“We were scouting our opponents long before the competitive season ended.”
“We had the U23 qualifiers against Rwanda, a Gambia friendly, CHAN qualifiers and the senior Cranes playing in the AFCON qualifiers,” he said.
Yet Micho has to be concerned with the outcomes of the past.
And while more than capable of setting up a team to qualify for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), it chafes against what he was supposedly brought in for – deliver Uganda to Africa’s biggest do, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This coming on the back-foot of yet another failed campaign, to ignore lessons of our ignominious past is to be doomed to repeat them and Micho knows this all too well.
“We have to maintain a never-say-die attitude, trying to put aside Uganda’s nature of trying to relax when things are good, a collision with logic and commonsense is bound to get us far,” he said.
“I would like to appreciate all the players, their talent, quality and hard work has given Uganda results but it is not over yet, football is unpredictable and a tricky game.
“There are issues you are proud about but there are others you look to improve as a team.”
It is perhaps refreshing that Micho is the first to admit the tedious work still to come.
“Phase 1 started on 8th April with the AFCON draw and it will come to an end on 5th September when we play our last game against Comoros,” he said.
“Uganda’s difficulties in qualifying in the past are also very real. This group is not unique in that it is not the first time for most of them.
“And one can only hope they are not particularly encumbered by the history of the failed campaigns.
“Our long term goal is that in 2025,Uganda will be among the top five football nations in Africa. With up to seven starters from the U23 side now featuring in the CHAN team, this is an achievable dream for 2019.”
He added: “We are proud to do what we are doing, we are hungry for more, when we restart on Friday, we want the same group of players but will add U23 players who are preparing for their 18th July tie against Egypt.
“We are looking to regroup on Friday, the players needed to refresh their minds and refill their batteries but there is a lot of hard work to come.”
And aboard the merry-go-round they go again. This time at the end of it all hoping for a nice comfortable nap, maybe?