Earlier this week, the Uganda Cranes Coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic summoned a 26 man squad of predominantly local based players to start training ahead of the friendly match the Walias of Ethiopia.
This will serve as a tune-up game in preparation of a do-or-die encounter for a place at the continental showpiece AFCON 2015 finals against four time champions, the Black Stars of Ghana at Nambole Stadium in Kampala on November 15, 2014.
Goal keeper Salim Jamal Magoola, having allegedly turned down the opportunity to feature for the Sudan national team, Falcons of Jediane, has also been rewarded with a Cranes call not only for his patriotism but also his achievements in his first year at Omdurman based giants El Merrick that saw him win the CECAFA 2014 Kagame Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out where Jamal was outstanding. He was also instrumental in El Merriekh’s victory in the Sudan Cup.
The revelation of the 2014/15 Uganda Premier League season, 18 year old midfielder Keziron Kizito (Vipers SC) also earned his maiden call to the national team, the Cranes. Kezi, as he is popularly known, is rated the best midfielder in the league at the moment. He is behind Vipers’ impressive start and unbeaten run as they top the Uganda Premier League table after seven games played with 19 points having won 6 games and drawn once.
Coach Richard Wasswa at the Buikwe based side describes Kezi as a complete midfielder, intelligent and an aggressive team player.
He is calm with the ball, his passing is phenomenon, dribbling skills superb, ball winning and control unmatched, supplies those killer passes (assists) and falls back to defend regularly.
Keziron is a solution to the industriousness and creativity in the middle of the park and in the team in general that has been the Cranes undoing in the recent years. There is no doubt Micho, the Uganda Cranes coach has been trailing him for some time and it’s on this basis that he wants to give the youngster an opportunity.
It is certain Keziron will be a success and he is going to play a central role and a bigger part in AFCON 2015 campaign and other tournaments to come but starting with the friendly game with Ethiopia this Saturday.
This is indeed a big step forward for Keziron as a young player but it imposes so much responsibility onto him, requires him to remain focused and deliver the much needed results unlike some promising (talented) young players such as; Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Mpande, George Abege, Mike Mutyaba, Ceaser Okhuti, Saddam Juma, Steven Bengo, Yasin Mugabi Ronald Muganga, Owen Kasule, Said Kyeyune, Ivan Ntege and many others that have faded away just after a few appearances at the national team.
The denominator in the catastrophic demise of such young talents’ especially in Uganda to live up to the expectations despite their immense talent can be attributed to complacency. Once a player is summoned to the national team, to them that is satisfactory, then stardom sets in. They now tend to spend more time drinking and having fun (nightclubs, beaches, etc. become the order of the day) than in training (working on their fitness and polishing their skills).
Later you hear that they are off for trials in South Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, etc. At this point, they are caught up in the money conundrum, hovering from one club to another in search of the best bidder.
These among other factors affect their mental state (focus) and form, eventually they cannot settle or put in a consistently good performance at the national team level as it was the case in their clubs prior to being selected.
Some people are made to believe that maybe it was too early to summon these boys urging that they (young players) need more time to develop in their respective clubs and through the youth structures (U16, U18, U20 and U23) at the national level.
To date despite the earlier setbacks, many young players mentioned above have since realized their errors, settled into local clubs in the league and are working hard to re-establish themselves in the bid to get their carriers back on track. I believe this is one way to go about it and hopefully this self-realization comes at a time when it is not already too late.
Keziron has an opportunity to start on a clean slate. He undoubtedly has the attitude, talent and potential to take him places. He can however learn from the mistakes of his peers to avoid repeat of the same, continue working hard and focusing at the bigger picture which is to ply his trade in the elite leagues in Europe.
On the other hand, Kezi needs guidance and encouragement from his coaches, managers, and friends but most importantly he ought to practice discipline and patience. Else it is going to be another case of too early a call, and we will find ourselves at the drawing board again – do we have it anyway?
Elvis Ssekate is a Ugandan football observer. You can find him on twitter: @essekate or via Email: ssekate@gmail.com