Why Micho was hired

May 24, 2013

There is a number that feel FUFA shouldn’t have appointed a ‘failure’ discarded a few months back by their counterparts in Rwanda

By Fred Kaweesi

WE all know that Micho Sredojevich ‘Sserunjogi’ is the new Cranes coach. We are also aware that the Serbian put pen to paper on a two-year renewable contact. 

However, what a majority of Ugandans are not aware of is if the 43-year-old was the right choice for the Cranes job.

There have been mixed reactions since Micho’s appointment was confirmed on Tuesday.

There is a number that feel FUFA shouldn’t have appointed a ‘failure’ discarded a few months back by their counterparts in Rwanda.

And then, there is a group that insist Micho’s arrival will simply evoke ‘club politics and sentiments’ that had undermined the national team in previous years considering his allegiances with SC Villa in the past.

But to any neutral, it’s different environments, different eras and Micho is eight years older than the young man that fought James Sianga during a CECAFA Club Championship match at Namboole.

Below are some of the reasons as to why Micho deserves all the support in a bid to try and end Uganda’s barren Nations Cup run since 1978.

Player power

There is enough to suggest that Micho will 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 some of the players he managed like Denis Onyango and still commands absolute respect among Ugandan footballers.

At almost every football institution, no matter how successful, there are players who at times criticize the coach, whether in public or private. But this was not the case with Micho at SC Villa in 2001 to 2004! 

Not one player expressed any doubts or resentment towards the Serbian. Not even players like Morley Byekwaso, who at times found themselves out of favour.

Knowledgeable/communication

For the years Micho has managed teams around East Africa with El Hilal (Sudan), St George (Ethiopia) and in Rwanda, he has worked with or been in a position to know too well the strengths and weaknesses of Ugandan players.

He has passed his tests with players —of being able to enjoy their friendly company, but with limits —and still get the best out of them. He speaks a bit of ‘Luganda’, a medium that most players understand better than Bobby’s tough Scottish accent that often left some consulting their colleagues.

Eye to identify talent

When Laszlo Csaba was still Cranes coach, he did not feel comfortable managing locally-based players.

Williamson was different. He appreciated them alongside the foreign-based group and that helped him to four CECAFA titles.

The only problem is he stuck with literally the same group for all international assignments. What Cranes needed now is a coach that will freely traverse the country and recommend structures that will identify promising talent. Micho will achieve that.

It must be noted that Micho was behind the project that produced a bulk of the Cranes players that served the team over the years such as Onyango, Andrew Mwesigwa, Timothy Batabaire, Nestroy Kizito, Joseph Kabagambe and Dan Wagaluka.

Tactical awareness

Under coach Mohammed Abbas, Cranes were a direct team. They were physical and hard players that were not affraid of tackling. The team played football like it was war, not a dance with the leather ball.

Under Csaba, it was safety first. Under Bobby, Cranes did not know if they were going to play through the back, the middle or go route one. 

Micho’s Villa team thrived on a solid defence and was efficient on the counter with a lot of service coming from the wide players. It was a team of battlers, that thrived in various formations.

Affordable

The assumption here is that Micho is what FUFA could afford. The Serbian’s wages were not disclosed but the feeling is that they were probably affordable.

Top-notch coaches do not normally come cheap and all across Africa, federations have needed the backing of their governments to finance coach recruitments which isn’t here.

When the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) appointed Henri Michel and his two assistants Florent Motta and Samir Ajam for KSh80m (Ush2.5b) a month on a 13 month contract, the Kenyan government suggested someone cheaper and Adel Amrouche was brought in. In 2006, Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete hired Brazilian Marcio Maximo before taking charge of Kim Poulsen’s wages.

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