Stand by me - Micho

By Fred Kaweesi

WHEN Micho Sredojevich ‘Serunjogi’ was confirmed as Cranes coach on Tuesday after signing a two-year renewable contact, there were mixed reactions from just about everyone.

There was a number that felt FUFA should not have appointed a coach discarded a few months back by their counterparts in Rwanda.

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

Of course not all coaches fired from previous responsibilities turn out to be failures elsewhere.

To understand this, the Zambians will tell you that Herve Renard helped them to the 2012 Africa Nations Cup title yet this surprisingly was a year after being sacked by the Angolan Football Federation for among other bad results, a 3-0 defeat to Uganda in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

In this exclusive interview, Micho opens up about his new appointment, plans for Ugandan football and previous adventures at SC Villa and around Africa.

Micho, what brings you back to Uganda? 

It was a call that I felt in my heart to try out a new challenge and prove to all Ugandans that we can achieve a lot in the future.

I feel motivated that FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa decided to entrust me with the responsibility of improving Ugandan football and I am confident that we shall succeed.

When I served as SC Villa coach between 2001 and 2004, during which I managed to secure good results and trophies, the other achievements were the friends I made among the players, officials, coaches and supporters.

I will not mention names but these made me feel accepted. They helped me appreciate African football and become who I am today. It’s because of them that I found myself prepared to work in five different African countries, where I learnt different traditions and cultures.

So when the opportunity to return to the birth place of my African football adventure came around, I didn’t hesitate because, like any other former student, I felt encouraged to return and work as a servant for this great nation.

But previous statistics show that you weren’t a success at Ethiopian club St George, failed at Orlando Pirates (South Africa) and were sacked by the Rwanda Football Association. Why should Ugandans trust you with this prestigious seat?

With all due respect this is defamatory to my achievements but I will be glad to answer you with truth, genuine facts, logic and common sense.

I will tell you that in more than 80 years in the history of Ethiopian club Saint George, I am by far the most successful coach. I won five Premier League trophies, two national cups, helped them to a CECAFA Club championship final in 2010 against Rwandan side APR (APR won 2-0).

St George are financially strong and were willing to spend on good players from around Africa but I convinced them that Ugandan players were good value to the team.

That’s how I took on Assani Bajope from KCC, and I went on to use more than 10 Ugandans in the team with good success.

Regarding my time at Orlando Pirates, it was while I was there that they achieved their second best international achievements at the club in more than 70 years. 

With them, we reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and if the chairman Irvin Khoza had not gone on to become the chairman of the 2010 World Cup organising committee, who knows, I would still be there.

He had offered me a ‘life’ contract but I decided to leave because of reasons best known to me.

As far as my stay was in Rwanda, I need to remind you that before me, they had been coached by Ghanaian Selas Tetteh the only African coach that won World title with Ghana U20. But I achieved almost 50% better results, including a good run in CECAFA.

In the Nations Cup qualifiers, we honourably lost to Nigeria, among the 25 international matches I was in charge of; preparing young players that will play for the country in the next 10 years.

I am proud that I laid a foundation for Rwandan football.

I hope I do not need to remind you that in arguably one of the most supported and one of the most successful CECAFA teams Al Hilal,

I was the most successful coach in more than 80 years of the club’s history. I guided the Sudan club in two consecutive African competitions without losing a game in the qualifiers to the group stages and reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup (2010) and CAF Champions league (2011). 

For five consecutive months, the club was according to International Institute for statistics, the best team in Africa and the Arab world.

That was plenty of experience for me and the key to success was dedication, commitment and knowledge.

During your stint with Villa, there was that incident where you had an ugly fight against fellow coach James Siang’a. Are players really supposed to look at you as a role model?

In order to present a negative picture of me, some of the individuals of your kind and tabloids are still highlighting that case as if it was the only thing that happened during my three years here.

It is like I only fought during my stay here. You forget that I produced a number of good players, some of whom good coaches and administrators.

The year was 2003....Sredojevich punches James Siang'a.

Okay I accept that happened but I have since deeply apologized for the incident but that was retaliation from me after I had been head-butted (by then Simba coach James Siang’a).

I am a very peaceful person and respectful to everyone from the President of the country to the young boys on the streets. And by the way, I have since resolved my issues with Siang’a.

I have closed that chapter and buried but some of you look like you have intentions to destabilize me while i am focusing on important duties I have with the Cranes.

How would you compare a Ugandan player to the rest you have handled around the continent?

The biggest power of Ugandan football is the players. It is not by accident that the best players in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda are Ugandan players.

Isaac Isinde and Robert Odongkara are the best in Ethiopia, Dan Sserunkuuma and Israel Emuge are the best in Kenya, Hamis Kiiza and Emma Okwi were the best in Tanzania before Okwi moved to Tunisia then Kagabo and Kagere are the best in Rwanda.

I could write a book about comparisons and differences of the players on our continent but I will just tell you that Ugandans are unique.

What are some of the memorable moments from your times at SC Villa (2001-2004)?

The most memorable moments are all the trophies we won, love, respect, hard work we had.

Some of the officials like Zzimwe, Kevin Aliro, Edward Luyimbazi, Fred Kiringi passed away (may their soul rest in peace).

I can’t forget the celebrations we had after beating Angola club AS Aviacao in Angola and after winning the CECAFA Club title in Kampala after 17 years. 

Those are moments I will never forget.

The most overriding reason as to why local coaches have been ignored for this top job has been their allegiances to particular clubs and failure to make independent decisions. Are you any different given that you were baptised Serunjogi of the Lugave clan?

I have great respect to all local coaches and they are unsung heroes.

I don’t know what you mean by club allegiance but I respect my former club SC Villa maybe even more KCCA and Express and all other clubs.

By the way that hype of the past times and animosity between clubs has since disappeared at least that is what sense.

The failure to make independent decisions is something blown out of proportion and is speculation in my opinion.

I have a sense to use my head. I am ready to respect and listen to anyone but football is my religion like it is also to my colleagues and I do not compromise there.

By the way, where did this Serunjogi name come from?

It came from good Ugandan football lovers back in the time who after failing to pronounce my surname Sredojevic found an easier name in Serunjogi.

That is how it came about and will stay forever. By the way I have been approached by my clan mates to play for Lugave in upcoming Bika tournament I look forward to that challenge.

I hope you are aware that your predecessor Bobby Williamson won four consecutive CECAFA Challenge Cup trophies, which means your minimal target must be qualifying this country to its first Nations Cup finals and nothing else?

Since leaving Uganda on July, 12, 2004, I have been physically absent but my soul has been present.

I genuinely appreciate all the coaches that have handled the Cranes from Mohammed Abass, Laszlo Csaba and especially Bobby Wiliamson who with the four CECAFA trophies made the Cranes the undisputed football kings of the region.

I have come here to work very hard, to keep the good standards achieved. Some people have given up on the 2014 World Cup, the chances are still there, I will not give up.

There is also the CHAN tournament, a life chance for our local based players to put themselves on the map of football.

There is the Nations Cup in Morocco 2015. Our intention is not only to qualify there but to also have continuity by staying there as regulars.

Together with my technical staff in U23, U20 and U17 teams we can achieve that. I look forward for constructive technical cooperation for the good of Ugandan football.

What do you plan to do different from the previous Cranes head coaches?

I have great respect to previous coaches their achievements and their ways of operating.

Every coach has his own way of doing things and I will follow my own way garnished with i have learned from much more experienced and successful football people on this continent. 

I have come to be part of an already successful team of people that has brought Uganda this high despite all the problems.

I am determined to give my full contribution. In that regard I have not come alone to Uganda i have come with huge network of friends who will assist us on the road to our dreams.

What do you expect from each Cranes player and bosses at FUFA?

I am expecting that everyone gives his full contribution for the sake of us and our supporters’ dreams. 

For that contribution to come, we need to keep all that brought us where we are and to eliminate whatever stopped us to be where we are supposed to be.

The formula is very simple. I expect players to play, coaches to coach, managers to manage, leaders to lead and supporters to support. It’s a case where everyone does his best.

What philosophy are you bringing to the national team?

With all due respect to previous times and appreciations we need to keep it up and even to strengthen our discipline, to have absolute order and perfect organisation, to go for hard work garnished with a scientific approach to things.

I will establish a family atmosphere based on good Ugandan and African tradition where everyone respects and everyone is respected. 

Those are key factors that will with talent and quality of our players get us performances and bring us results.