Let's prepare Ibra for management

By Fred Kaweesi

WHEN Bobby Williamson calls time on his position as Cranes head coach in future, soccer governing body FUFA will have every reason to consider a Ugandan for the national team's top seat.

Of course this is a very unpopular decision considering the politics and intrigue that have conspired to undermine any of the Ugandan coaches' contributions at the helm of the national team.

The local-based candidates available might not also meet the standards expected for the top seat.

But coaches are nurtured and the process is even faster if the candidates are familiar with the trade and exposed to better facilities.

After nearly three decades of World/Nations Cup failure, it's time to empower some of our very own.

It might not be immediate but should be the primary objective for our technical team in Mengo.

Former Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya comes to mind as the best possible candidate for the top seat in the near future. Why not? He is Ugandan, understands the culture, is wellexposed and commands respect from just about everybody.

Sekagya plans to start studying for his coaching badges later this year while still playing, with the ultimate dream of claiming a UEFA Pro Licence —the necessary qualification to manage in Europe.

In a nutshell, he would love to build on his dressing room responsibilities at Red Bulls Salzburg, where he also plays a quasi-assistant managerial role to manager Roger Schmidt. 

Schmidt seeks his opinions on literally everything about the dressing room, more so following his impeccable achievements last year when he not only became the second African to lead a European club to league glory after guiding Salzburg to the Bundesliga title but became the first African to captain a European club to a cup double in the same year.

Senegal striker Mamadou Niang is the only other African player who led Marseille to the French Ligue 1 title.

Salzburg had made four Austrian cup finals but had lost on each occasion. But that was before the former Cranes defender joined the club in 2007.

Last season, the Austrian giants were indomitable, particularly under the captainship of Sekagya. He was inspirational and a true leader -just as he was during his 15-year stint with the Cranes.

He would definitely become a popular appointment within the Cranes dressing room, not because he would be perceived to be an easy touch but rather because he is revered by his former teammates and commands absolute respect among Ugandan footballers.

Sekagya shares the same relentless pursuit of winning as the man that spent on signing him for Salzburg in 2007 —Giovanni Trapattoni.

Trapattoni, who is considered the most successful head coach in the history of Italian football, saw a lot of himself in the Ugandan defender.

Sekagya has the backing of some of Europe's finest, the credibility to follow with it and most important contacts that would secure the national team vital connections in Europe and Argentina, where he played for Arsenal.

Of course Sekagya lacks experience, but Lucio Antunes had never managed a first team before he took Cape Verde to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup tournament. 

Sekagya has also worked under different training regimes. He knows better than anyone the demands of top-notch football and how to prepare for big games -the type that Cranes must win to ever dream of making the Nations Cup or World Cup finals.

All said, whether Sekagya becomes the next Cranes boss or not will be a decision based entirely on him.