He was the mainstay of Uganda's 'golden' generation of the seventies; he also captained the Cranes at the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Ghana. An elegant sweeper, Jimmy Kirunda was famed for his outstanding technique and tactical insight. He admired Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer so much that he emulated him in all aspects of the game; from the sweeping position to captaining the national team.
And for all the great things Kirunda did on the pitch, he is best remembered for the late winner against Ethiopia in 1977, a result that sealed Uganda's berth at the 1978 continental showpiece. The 'Kaiser,' as he was fondly known, had an explosive ten-year career at KCC FC, holding down a permanent spot for the City giants those days. His consistency and insatiable appetite for the game was great.
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