Why local coaches don't cut the grade: Part II

A couple of local coaches contacted me over my Sunday column last week. They were gravely disappointed and one of them even told me that he has lowered his esteem of my analytical credentials.

I promised the two that I would return this week to qualify my rejection of local coaches with a live demonstration of what it is that they really lack.

A quick look at a select line up of local coaches of the 19th century will show why we don't stand a chance with the 20^th century generation.

David Otti (RIP), Bidandi Ssali, Robert Kiberu, Peter Okee. George Mukasa, Barnabas Mwesiga, Polly Ouma, Timothy Ayieko. They never delivered the Uganda Cranes to either the Africa Cup of Nations or FIFA World Cup finals but they had the right profiles for the job.

As individuals they had personality and clout which is why they commanded the respect of players, fans and the football federation.

In terms of qualifications some did not have the papers that most of the current crop possesses but they had key credentials beyond the academic.

They were not just coaches but managers. They were excellent at nurturing talent and skilled at getting the best out individual players.

They respected each other, supported each other and easily accepted when decisions to change them were made. They were professional.

Off the field, they carried themselves with respect and as models. Above all, they were apolitical. Even during their times, football did not pay the kind of money that is earned in other business or professions yet they were diligent and passionate about their jobs.

Money was not everything. This was the main reason why there was little advocacy for hiring a professional coach for the Uganda Cranes then.

Sibling rivalry dominates the 20th century local coach market.

The coaches today who were celebrity players, find it difficult to accept that those from their generation who had inferior talent can have better knowledge as coaches.

That perception is shared by a big section of the fans and these are the biggest influence on decisions taken by the federation.

There is a category of coaches like Ibrahim Kirya, George Ssemwogerere, Moses Basena, Matia Lule, Kefa Kisala, Deo Sserwadda, Alex Isabirye, George Nsimbe, Abdallah Mubiru, Mike Mutebi and Mujib Kasule; all former players who never became poster boys.

The poster boys were Jackson Mayanja, Sam Ssimbwa and Steven Bogere. All coaches now.

Celebrated stars who became icons to many. You could add Sula Kato into the mix.

If FUFA chooses to go local, this is the pool from which they would choose from. There is clear daylight between this and the 19th century class.

Who has clout or class among them?

It is a group that has bickered its way through their careers mindless of the need to position themselves as brands. There is also a question of record and consistency.

Which current local coach has held on to a single job for a time long enough to impart a particular philosophy which resulted in a distinct identity to forge a brand of football to be proud of?

To cite achievement in terms of trophies won would be most misleading as each of Mutebi, Sserwadda, Nsimbe, Ssimbwa, Mayanja, Kato, Isabirye have won trophies.

The question therefore must not be which local coach can win the CECAFA because they all can.

It should rather be, which coach can build the Cranes into an admirable brand on both local and international scene?

Qualifying for the finals of top international competitions is one such ideal because in turn, Uganda wins respect on the continent.

We need a coach who can make stars out of promising talents like Farouk Miya, Derrick Nsibambi and Alan Okello.

A coach who can discover previously unknown talent and launch them on the international stage.

While it is true that all local players have been unearthed by a local coach somewhere in time, it begs the question why there is no further growth and development of the same players once they have hit the big time.

The 19th century coaches had the X-factor that the current generation do not have.