Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic revealed his heart was in pain over three players whose transfers he feels were not rightly handled.
The Uganda Cranes coach believes that Allan Okello, Muhammad Shaban, and Farouk Miya would be playing in arguably one of the top five leagues in Europe at the moment.
In an extensive interview with Kawowo Sports that is available on our Youtube channel, Micho was responding to a question on why Uganda doesn’t have players in top leagues.
“In 1999, America was bombing my country and after bombings, I saw one man and his name was Bruno Metsu (RIP), the man who made the Senegal national team what it was sited besides me. When he started speaking, I asked what is this man talking about, but three years later in Korea and Japan, we have seen what Senegal was from his vision,” started Micho.
“In that regard, we need to find way and establish national team desk with a strategy to place players at the right place. In my scouting report about Senegal ahead of our clash in 2013 in the World Cup qualifiers, they had 501 players in Europe, we had none,” he added.
“I will tell you one positive example from outside and one from Uganda.
“Patson Daka has gone to Liefering (second division in Austria) for just 3000 Euros; he lifted himself to Salzburg winning U-20 Afcon for Zambia, playing in pieces until he reached the level gradually to the strategy of Fredric Kanoute to become one of the prominent players going to Leicester to play now.
“In the same moment, I was happy in Israel they were calling me and saying they need a player like Timothy Awany. He has gone for same few euros salary but at the peak of his performance, his value rose to 1.5 million euros.
This is the best way to announce yourself and I urge other players to do that.”
In that regard, the Serbian Wolf believes wrong decisions were made for Miya, Okello, and Shaban as their clubs only looked at the financials side but not the future of the players.
“Uganda has not handled well three arguably the most talented players that have in recent years come – Muhammad Shaban, Allan Okello, and Farouk Miya.
“Age mate of Daka, Shaban instead of going to Dinamo Zagreb; one of the biggest factories of players in Europe like Luka Modric, Lovren so many of them where I brought to Onduparaka for 100,000 Euros, it was turned down and he ended up in Morocco.
“Miya instead of going to Salzburg, Vipers offered him to Standard Liege which deal was more economically suitable. In Standard Liege, they were changing coaches and Miya was seen as a player to feel the gap but he was young. It was a good strategy for Vipers, bad one for the player.
“He was supposed to grow gradually at Salzburg and now we would be watching Miya with more footballing confidence and in a better league.
“When Ajax Amsterdam came for 16 year old Okello, I don’t know what happened but he instead went to AC Paradou in Algeria. Since he went there, seventeen players have gone to Europe but not him.
“My Ugandan football soul is in pain. If we had handled them differently, they would be in the top five leagues in Europe maybe not in England because of their physic but I believe they could match the technicality of the Spain game.”
Micho also talked about how current Uganda Cranes captain missed a chance to play in Serie A.
“One day, I recommended Okwi to one of the top football agents, Sergio Berti. He came down to Tanzania to watch Simba against Yanga.
“In that game, Okwi scored a hat-trick and also won two penalties as Simba for the first time beat Yanga 5-0. Berti closed his book on the player and recommended a move a Serie A move without trials but somehow, the player opted out.
“In the recent years, he would become the first player to transfer straight from the East African League to a top European league.
“I had lunch with him a few days ago and reminded him of the previous career mistakes he made. It’s painful since he is one of the most intelligent players I have worked with. With him, we can speak football all day.”
Do you agree with Micho’s assertions?
Very Painful. We need basic footballing education to be taught to our children from a very young age but also for the administrators to look at talent development more than quick financial gain.
Well put it Coach micho
Indeed this is real. We hope since he is back he may set the pace
so right coacha….. 😒😥😥
He’s right , we have got only money minded directors in uganda’s football rather than good football directors for the good football and player’s careers,
That is true our beloved coach.
with the nature of how clubs are run, many owners look at getting back big investments…which is good for the club…they don’t care how the players would fare thereafter.
I agree much with him
But that goes to the clubs that hold signatures of those players who need much money in players sold
Then goes to the agents behind these players to who prefer huge sums of money and contracts that don’t favour the players they exchange.
It’s like they conning clubs within deals
Then they don’t cater for the future of there players they prefer what’s on the table at that time.
And you see Ugandan players ending up taking
Sign on fee and they did appear.
I may be at the sides of two players
Allan okello
Miya farouk
But the other wasn’t made for professional leagues due to his poor discipline lined on his name from every where he passes
Uganda soccer is crappy. One person wants to do all. Coach, scout, agent, manager, masquerade etc
May be the problem s from the village
Honestly this is the fact and we should at least take a view in these words to see how Ugandan can play in top leagues
I Love the love of micho for Ugandan players, he always wishes them well. Let’s pray for Sadat Anaku