Paul Mbuga
11 January 2009
opinion
Kampala — UGANDA'S local football governing body, FUFA, has made it abundantly clear that the principal aim of the Uganda Cranes' venture in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is to bed the younger and inexperienced players into the national team.
So far, the performances of, notably, Brian Umony, Steven Bengo, Abbey Dhaira, Tony Mawejje and Cranes' regulars Dan Wagaluka, Simeon Masaba and Vincent Kayizzi have vindicated FUFA and coach Bobby Williamson's outlook.
The problem, as always, arises with the question of continuity. Uganda will next engage in competitive football after the CECAFA final tomorrow against Kenya in September 2010 when the qualifiers for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations get underway.
Is FUFA capable of keeping this bubbling team together? The players' discipline and career choices will be crucial in this regard, but even more important are the basic organizational aspects needed to ensure the continuity of a national team. FUFA has never been convincing in this respect.
In previous years, football luminaries Mike Mutebi and the German Guntter Zittel were tasked with preparing a database - so to speak - of the country's most talented young players to constantly feed the Cranes.
The two discharged their duties, but the organisational chaos the players were to later encounter left several disillusioned. FUFA must avoid a short-term-ist celebration of CECAFA's success and strive to ensure the national team stays together - and develops.
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