S256 – 003 soccer256 By Masiira Ramathan +256783182922 FACE TO FACE: Richard Malinga (KCCA skipper) The ex cranes international took the time off to share his football experiences with us. S256: How did you start out playing football? I was born and raised in Banda, a suburb on the outskirts of Kampala city. That is where I started playing football in the second division for banda around 1997. I then joined bweyogerere F.C. in the first division in 1998. I played there for one year. I then joined Malera in Bukedea district in 1999. We played in the super mini league but we did not make it to the top flight. Patrick Isiagi who worked in the health ministry then took me to Health F.C.. I joined Health in the super division in 1999 where I found Noaah Kasule babadi and Medi Nsubuga. From there I joined KCC F.C. in 2000 where I won the kakungulu cup under the guidance of coach David Otti(RIP). A fter two years with KCC, Express f.c. bought me at UGX 25M, which was a Ugandan record. I was given UGX 12M as signing fee. In 2002 I was the top scorer in the kakungulu cup with 12 goals despite the fact that I was a defender. I then suffered a nasty injury before we won the kakungulu cup in 2005. I stopped playing for one and a half years. In 2006 I worked so hard and gained my form back and I also switched to playing in central defence. In 2007 I joined URA F.C. were we won back to back league titles with coach Frank Video Anyau. In 2008 I got injured while playing for the cranes in Tanzania where we were invited to play a friendly marking the opening of their new national stadium. I left URA in 2010 and went to Kachumbali were I was coach of Amuus F.C., a team owned by Patrick Isiagi. From there I came back to KCC F.C. S256: What’s your motivation? I respect football, it has made me popular. I know I have to play, I know my strengths and weaknesses. I work hard on my strengths inorder to overshadow my weaknesses. S256: What are your strengths? Am very good in the air, am very good at game reading and am also quick at closing down opponents. S256:Tell us about your cranes career. In 2000 I was invited to join the under 20 national team. We went to Kenya and we were runner up in the CECAFA regional tournament I was also invited to join the U-23 side under the guidance of Harrison Okagbue and Leo Adra. I found myself playing for the U-20, U-23 and the cranes senior side at the same time. I made my cranes senior debut against Senegal in Nakivubo. Ibrahim Ssekagya started in the right back position and he had a really bad game. He was later substituted and I was introduced for my cranes debut. In 1999 when Uganda hosted the CECAFA tournament, two Ugandan teams reached the finals. Cranes and Kobs reached the final and I was part of the cranes team which won the cup. S256: Give us your best eleven players with you inclusive. 1. Casilla 2.malinga 3. Evra 4. Puyol 5. Pique 6. Essien 7 . ronaldo 8. Schools 9. Messi 10. Drogba 11. Robben S256: Who is the toughest opponent you have ever faced in your football career? Kalilu fadiga (Senegal), peter odemwinge (Nigeria) S256: Who is your football idol? Cafu the former Brazilian full back S256: As skipper of KCCA F.C. How big is your responsibility? I give confidence to young players. I help them by covering them when the opponents are being hard on us S256: How has playing on your new home ground improved your game? We now have the confidence and we also have the home advantage. The half decisions can go away way and our fans are always behind us. S256: What are your greatest and saddest moments in your football career? My greatest moment was when we won the castle cup against Kenya in Kenya. We went 2 goals behind but we came back and scored two goals to equalize. We then went ahead to win in penalties. My saddest moment was when we failed to win the 2010-2011 league title. URA won the title. S256: What do you think needs to be done to improve Ugandan football? We need to go back to the grass roots also a lot has to be done to improve on the administration S256: What’s your take on the level of age cheating in Ugandan football? The problem in Uganda it is hard to keep records. Players who have not yet played at the top level are considered to be young. It doesn’t matter how long you have played in the lower divisions. As long as you have not yet played in the super division you are considered to be young. S256: How do you prepare for a game? I start my match preparations a week earlier, I have enough rest and plan and I study my opponents. We also get recordings of our opponents and look at them. We are given bonuses to motivate us. For instance officials stake money if the defenders don’t concede. S256: What advice do you have for the young footballers who would like to follow in your footsteps? Talk less. Have confidence without talking and work hard. You have to know your strengths, respect your team mates and your coach. Believe in yourself. Young players should also have discipline follow the coach’s advice and do some extra training.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:03:28 +0000
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