Twelve years ago, then Cranes Coach Mike Mutebi named Chelsea young defender Joel Kitamirike on the squad to face DR Congo in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The youngster was excited about the call up then and in an interview with BBC Sport stated that he was looking forward to playing a role in the campaign.
I am thrilled to play for my country and look forward to having a role in the qualifiers. I hope to travel to Uganda on Saturday or Sunday to join up with the team.
Sadly, Kitamirike, on loan at British side Brentford then couldn’t make the team thanks to Ugandan immigration laws that meant him giving up his Citizenship in Britain.
I was given certain papers to fill, but I first had to fax them to my lawyer in England. However, even before sending them, I just thought it was wise to remain with my British citizenship.
That was end of the story although he impressed Mutebi in the few training session he had with the team.
Mutebi acknowledged the team was to miss his presence and intelligence in the game.
“We shall miss his presence in this game, he’s a very intelligent player,” said Coach Mike Mutebi now at KCCA.
Forward to 2012, from Netherlands, emerged another Ugandan footballer in forward Fabian Derrick Kizito.
Unlike Kitamirike, he donned the famous national team jersey in a friendly against Egypt scoring in the game and made the bench in the 1-1 draw away to Angola in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
He was never considered again after failing to impress and has since lost track of his football career.
In the same campaign, Sweden based Martin Mutumba Kayongo also got a summon and earned more caps.
From the debut against Angola to games against Senegal (home and away), Mutumba was liked and hated in equal measure by the fans.
He earned six caps for the national team; one start and as many off the substitutes bench.
Playing for AIK Stockholm in Sweden then, the player many dubbed Uganda’s Ronaldinho has never been considered since then and his star has fallen as well in his club career.
From the three, now comes England born Germany Melvyn Lorenzen. Born to a Uganda father, Drake Mugisa and a Germany mother, the Werder Bremen attacker was on Wednesday part of the 21 man squad summoned by Coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic to prepare for the crucial tie against Botswana in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
When interviewed by Daily Monitor last year, he made it clear he wouldn’t mind playing for Cranes if an offer came up.
“I would not mind playing for Uganda if the offer came up,” he said. “But I have not really thought about it. I want to concentrate on my club career at the moment and really try to break into the first team,” he added.
Less than a year later, the offer has come and the nation is waiting to see what he brings on the pitch.
The biggest question remains, will he eclipse his ‘overseas’ compatriots’ performances? Only time will tell.
