UGANDA The Next thing is a Ugandan in the Premiership Stephen Kiprotich broke barriers by becoming Uganda’s first genuine global superstar since John Akii-Bua when he added World Championships marathon gold to his Olympic crown. His feats have been celebrated by Ugandans everywhere and he continues to be lavished with presents and adulation. It is unlikely that there will be another Ugandan superstar to send the country into the kind of congratulatory pandemonium that the Kapchorwa boy caused in our society. We have produced world boxing champions, chess players of international renown and continental giants but all pale in comparison to Kiprotich. The closest thing to causing a manic obsession today is a Ugandan playing in the English Premiership. As it is, it is unlikely that a Ugandan will be on the books of a Premier League club because of the complex issue of processing a work permit. Uganda Cranes’ Fifa ranking doesn’t do our players any favours. Some of the players to have come out of Uganda were good enough to play in the Premier League. Former national team Ibrahim Ssekagya is a much better player than Pascal Cygan. But Cygan somehow fashioned a career for Arsenal. The limited Darron Gibson possesses inferior technique to Tonny Mawejje yet we all know the former once played for Man United and is now at Everton. Ssekagya and Obua have been Uganda’s two highest profile players of recent times but none managed to play in the Premiership despite featuring a couple of times in the Europa League for Red Bulls Salzburg and Heart of Midlothian respectively. Today, a Premier League player from Uganda remains a dream, but not an impossible one. Kenya’s Victor Wanyama is playing for modest Southampton after joining from Celtics in the summer, but is seen as a national hero. Wanyama’s near cult-hero status has usurped McDonald Mariga and Denis Oliech. The new Saints acquisition enjoys superstar status in his homeland simply because he is plying his trade in the world’s most watched league. Mariga is living the dream of a Ugandan footballer. Producing a player in the Premiership would thrust football in the country through a new frontier. The gains from that milestone would be short, mid and long term. Where it appeared a mission too high for players in Uganda, all of a sudden clubs would be convinced they can make one of their own develop into a Premier League player. There would be money to earn for the player and clubs. KCC for instance received money from Ssekagya’s transfer from Arsenal de Serandi to Red Bulls Salzburg. There is a chronic lack of role models in Ugandan football. By featuring in England’s topflight, that player would guarantee himself the proud status of being one many look up to. Interest and passion in the English Premiership remains at an all-time high. Some argue its rise greatly contributed to the demise of the league football in Uganda. That discussion, however, is for another day. Uganda soccer fans have waited to watch one of their own showcasing his talent to the world for an Arsenal, Chelsea, Hull or Cardiff. They’ve already taken the Premiership to their hearts. Imagine the craze if Joseph Mpande or Denis Guma was unveiled at Anfield. If a Ugandan made it to the Premier League, there would be incomparable frenzy every week. It would be a sustained crusade of obsession because the English Premiership is weekly. ----- Eto’o the greatest ever player to have come out of Africa He signed a one-year contract for English side Chelsea yesterday to continue his nomadic career after playing in Spain, Italy and Russia. Yet whatever becomes of his time at Chelsea, Samuel Eto’o Fils has done enough to be qualified as arguably the greatest African player of all time. Whatever the formula, Eto’o ticks all boxes. He long passed the test of longevity having arrived at Real Madrid in 1997. It is a staggering achievement being the only footballer to win back-to-back trebles in the history of European football. But there is more to him. Eto’o is the record goal scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament he lifted twice. He also won Sydney 2000 Olympic football gold with Cameroon. Though nominally a no.9, Eto’o can adapt to positions and at Chelsea will be used as more than just a finisher.
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 06:35:06 +0000
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