Defender Murushid Juuko's career with the national team has come to an end.

He has joined a growing list of players who have in the last 12 months decided to end their Cranes careers including Dennis Onyango, Hassan Wasswa and Mike Azira.

The 28-year-old confirmed his retirement in the letter he addressed to FUFA.

“If you told me as a young boy I would have played for my country (the Uganda Cranes) over fifty caps and lined up against some of the biggest national teams. I would have told you it was a fantasy. I am fortunate to have realised those dreams, however, I feel I have served the nation enough and it’s time for me to call it a day with the Uganda Cranes,” part of his letter read.

“This has not been a simple decision for me to make but together with my family and management we think this is the right step for me to take.”

Juuko made his Cranes debut under Milutin Sredojević’s first stint as coach of the national team on July 11, 2014, against Seychelles.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank FUFA, my teammates on the national team (past and present), the government and all football stakeholders for their support during my time with the Uganda Cranes.”

“I wish the Uganda Cranes the best of luck in their future endeavours and I will now concentrate on my club football with Express,” he added.

Juuko’s final game with Uganda Cranes was on September 6, 2021, against Mali in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Kitende where he was sent off for elbowing Mali forward Ibrahim Kone.

Juuko who previously played for Bunamwaya (now Vipers SC), Victoria University (defunct), Simba (Tanzania), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) will concentrate on his career at Express FC.

He was part of the Uganda Cranes team that represented Uganda at the AFCON finals in 2017 and 2019 in Gabon and Egypt respectively.

Juuko’s retirement comes after he was given a few months by FIFA to pay a sh20m fine for the red card he picked up against Mali.

Some reports allege that Juuko retired because of the fine but his manager John Ssebwato refuted them saying it is the right time for the player to quit the national team.

“He has served the national team for a long time and he decided to give a chance to other players since we have a lot of talented players. He has not retired because of the FIFA fine since he is not the first player to be fined,” noted Ssebwato.

FUFA president Moses Magogo as well as Cranes players and officials had pledged to contribute towards clearing the fine.