OPINION: Csaba can lead us back to the top
Jul 16, 2006
GERMAN coach Laszlo Csaba was recruited by football governing body FUFA last week and told to take the national team Cranes to Ghana in 2008 and South Africa in 2010.<br>
By Louis Jadwong, Sports Editor
GERMAN coach Laszlo Csaba was recruited by football governing body FUFA last week and told to take the national team Cranes to Ghana in 2008 and South Africa in 2010.
It is an ambitious target for a country ranked 99th in the world that last featured at the Nations Cup in 1978, and whose clubs are far from the continental powers they used to be.
Csaba must start from scratch, as it is emerging his involvement might have to include going down to the clubs to pass on the basics he will expect all his players to come with to the national team.
Having ‘a dream’ though has often turned out to be the first step, even in football.
The country has expected a lot before only to be let down by the failure of past FUFA regimes to put into place the kind of organisational structures that can propel the team to greater heights.
Now that the right coach has been found, FUFA must coordinate all the other key actors in Ugandan football and come out with an official blueprint to getting to Ghana and South Africa.
Referees, the clubs, players, FUFA committees, potential sponsors and government must all have a clear picture of where we are heading to.
The failure before has been in Cranes starting the journey without knowing what resources and limitations there are, or without setting any targets, mapping any route or Plan B.
Cranes will only get to Ghana and South Africa if FUFA have in place a clear strategy when the campaign starts against Lesotho on September 3.
GERMAN coach Laszlo Csaba was recruited by football governing body FUFA last week and told to take the national team Cranes to Ghana in 2008 and South Africa in 2010.
It is an ambitious target for a country ranked 99th in the world that last featured at the Nations Cup in 1978, and whose clubs are far from the continental powers they used to be.
Csaba must start from scratch, as it is emerging his involvement might have to include going down to the clubs to pass on the basics he will expect all his players to come with to the national team.
Having ‘a dream’ though has often turned out to be the first step, even in football.
The country has expected a lot before only to be let down by the failure of past FUFA regimes to put into place the kind of organisational structures that can propel the team to greater heights.
Now that the right coach has been found, FUFA must coordinate all the other key actors in Ugandan football and come out with an official blueprint to getting to Ghana and South Africa.
Referees, the clubs, players, FUFA committees, potential sponsors and government must all have a clear picture of where we are heading to.
The failure before has been in Cranes starting the journey without knowing what resources and limitations there are, or without setting any targets, mapping any route or Plan B.
Cranes will only get to Ghana and South Africa if FUFA have in place a clear strategy when the campaign starts against Lesotho on September 3.