I applaud FUFA for Mubiru's appointment

New beginnings. Whatever Ugandans think about the Cranes performance at the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 in Egypt, FUFA has given their verdict. It's time for a change.

This week, the federation announced wholesome changes in the technical set up which begun with the ‘mutual consent' termination of coach Desabre Sebastian's contract.

The Frenchman didn't lose a job but rather, moved on where the grass is greener at Pyramids Football Club in Egypt.

His gain, however, was Cranes loss and as it turns out, the loss of his entire back up team.

Local coaches Matia Lule and Fred Kajoba, just like their boss Desabre, did a commendable job and will forever be remembered as the first Ugandan coaches to help Uganda qualify from the group stage of the AFCON since 1978.

That alone is enough on their resume to warrant the kind of confidence they can use to secure new jobs.

Like all employees in any organisation however, the day was always going to come when change would be inevitable.

To FUFA's credit, they gave them a chance to advance their careers and thankfully, they have taken full advantage.

Likewise, they have walked away much better financially than they were when they walked in.

The allowances, bonuses, value-added, benefits and bumpy harvests from the office of the President have surely watered their accounts for as long as they have been part of the national team set up. It doesn't matter therefore why they have been sidelined.

Logic dictates that when a head coach departs; having come with or recommended specific members on his backroom staff, their positions become untenable.

A new coach would as well, prefer to move in with their own. Nothing wrong with that. I for one, therefore, applaud FUFA's bold action.

Making difficult decisions perceived as unpopular in some quarters is a mark of strong leadership. And so, we too must move on.

Police FC coach, Abdullah Mubiru, has been appointed as the new head coach and assisted on an interim basis by Livingstone Mbabazi and Sadik Wassa.

They will be in charge of the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers between Uganda and Somalia later this month.

FUFA is also looking to fill other positions that include head coach, assistant coaches, trainers, video assistants, medical team and kit men for the junior national teams as well.

For several years, Ugandans accused the federation of favouring specific individuals who kept their coaching jobs- though in assisting capacity- for several routines in-spite of the changes at the top.

The argument was always that there is such a big pool of qualified local coaches who served the nation well as ex-footballers and needed to be rewarded.

The choice of Mubiru, Wassa and the relatively new Mbabazi to the scene has absolved Moses Magogo's FUFA.

Mubiru, for example, has been a known critic of the regime for as long as he has been in football, either as coach or journalist.

The new message from FUFA is that football has moved on. Professionalism is not about friendships or brotherhood. It's about credentials and what one has to bring on the table.

Even if one were to look at the latest appointments as a political move to build broken bridges with the stakeholders that matter, it is well within Magogo's rights and judgement as a leader.

It is up to Mubiru and his new team to show whether this was just a favour or a chance for them to make the jobs their own.

I personally like the entire team that has been promoted. Mubiru is a man of philosophy with proven skills at handling youth talents. His team play beautiful technical football.

Mbabazi has made dramatic strides in coaching and he has shocked me with his passion and talent. Apolitical and principled.

Wassa, more than anyone, deserves his elevation. What a talent he was in his playing days.

As others consider formally applying for the available vacancies, I will throw in a good word for FUFA.

Decisions don't have to be popular to be right. For me, this was a decision well thought.

Well done.