Museveni mourns Cranes veteran captain Jimmy Kirunda
May 26, 2020
"We shall miss him," said Museveni, who sent condoled with the family of Kirunda and the football fraternity.
DEATH | SPORTS | FOOTBALL | UGANDA CRANES
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday took to his twitter handle, to mourn the death of Jimmy Kirunda, a man whose career climaxed in 1978 when he captained the Uganda Cranes to the Nations Cup final, to-date the highest point reached by the Cranes.
"I have learnt about the death of Kirunda, one of the greatest footballers our country has produced," he tweeted.
"We remember the major feat when he captained the national team to the Africa Cup finals in 1978," said the President.
"We shall miss him," said Museveni, who condoled with the family of Kirunda and the football fraternity at large.
Former Uganda Cranes captain, Kirunda, passed on at the age of 70. He led Uganda to the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations final against Ghana, finishing as the losing finalists.
His football story began in the early 1960s in one of Uganda's top football hubs- Mulago. It was here at a pitch, commonly known as "Maracana" after the Cathedral of Brazilian football, that he honed his skills.
I have learnt about the death of Jimmy Kirunda, one of the greatest footballers our country has produced. We remember the major feat when he captained the national team to the Africa Cup finals in 1978. We shall miss him. Condolences to his family and the football fraternity. pic.twitter.com/iaA8FkMotK
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 26, 2020
His early rise to first-team places in Express, then KCC and later Cranes served as a huge inspiration to youngsters at Mulago.
What followed were stars like Tom Lwanga, Sam Mugambe, Godfrey Kateregga, Adam Ssemugabi, and Magid Musisi also shining both at club and the national team.
A footballer of legendary status in Uganda's history books, Kirunda will be remembered for his dedicated football service.
He played for Express FC (1968 and 1969), KCC FC (1969 until 1979), Abu Dhabi Sports (1979 and 1980. He also had a stint at SC Villa.
He captained Uganda to three Nations Cup finals, including the memorable 1978 campaign.