Fufa confident on coach over Cameroon job

Aug 15, 2007

SOCCER-GOVERNING body FUFA, is confident Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba will snub interest from African heavyweights Cameroon and honour his four-year contract instead.<br>

By Joseph Opio

SOCCER-GOVERNING body FUFA, is confident Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba will snub interest from African heavyweights Cameroon and honour his four-year contract instead.

FUFA publicist, Aldrine Nsubuga yesterday revealed that Csaba, who has three years on his contract, was bound to stay in Uganda for professional and personal reasons.

“He still has a mission to complete with the Cranes,” Nsubuga said.
Csaba was yesterday reported as one among 78 candidates short-listed to take over the helm of the Indomitable Lions.

The revelation — coming three weeks before Uganda’s critical Nations Cup qualifier against Niger — provoked alarm, but Nsubuga and FUFA remain unperturbed.

“On a personal level, Csaba’s family likes it in Uganda. They’ve settled in. In fact, his wife and child are persuading him to extend his contract.”

Nsubuga added that FUFA was more flattered than incensed by the reports. “Cameroon’s interest in Csaba is a vindication of our choice. It shows how high Csaba’s stint here has raised his profile.”

He scoffed at fears that the German tactician could be tempted by the wages on offer, which are astronomical compared to his current $7,500 [sh12.5m-a-month] salary.

Csaba would earn a more than 600% pay-raise were he to beat the likes of Philippe Troussier, Jean-Pierre Papin and Otto Pfister to the Cameroon post. But Nsubuga argued: “Csaba is determined to make a reputation before money. Uganda gives him a chance to do that without undue pressure.”

Cameroon’s last two foreign coaches have both deserted their posts due to unwelcome interference.

Dutchman Arie Haan lasted just six months into a two-year contract; abandoning his $50,000-a-month [sh84m] job due to the meddlesome nature of Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) president Mohammed Iya.

Haan’s predecessor, Artur Jorge also cited regular interference in team selection matters from Cameroon’s sports minister Philippe Mboa before resigning his post.
Curiously, Jorge is also on the 78-man shortlist.

  • CRANES skipper Ibrahim Sekagya has written to FUFA expressing his eagerness to lead the team against Niger on September 8, reports Swalley Kenyi.

    “He wanted an update. He is the only player who has communicated to us since letters were sent,” FUFA vice-president Asumani Lubowa said.

    Meanwhile, the technical committee has insisted on inviting Posnet Omwony despite protests from FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa, who personally axed the ‘keeper after a poor display against Libya in a friendly last year.
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