Portuguese scouts want Cranes' Obua
Sep 12, 2007
FIFA soccer agent Mujib Kasule’s cellphone cannot stop ringing. Kasule is turning out to be the victim of David Obua’s heroics at the weekend when Uganda battled to a 3-1 win in their last Nations Cup qualifier.
By Phillip Corry and
Douglas Mazune
FIFA soccer agent Mujib Kasule’s cellphone cannot stop ringing. Kasule is turning out to be the victim of David Obua’s heroics at the weekend when Uganda battled to a 3-1 win in their last Nations Cup qualifier.
Soccer agents in Europe have taken notice and want to be the first to get to Obua —for his signature. Obua’s hat-trick might not have earned the Cranes qualification but it could reap a dream professional transfer to Europe for the Kaizer Chiefs talisman.
“I have received calls from unidentified soccer scouts from Portugal who want to know the status of Obua’s contract in South Africa,†Kasule told The New Vision.
“They were not very elaborate. Maybe because I am also a FIFA-registered agent.â€
Kasule said he referred them to Obua’s South Africa-based Serbian agent, Ivica Stankovic.
Obua, who is one of the top four leading scorers in the Nations Cup qualifiers with five goals, has been at South African giants Chiefs for two years.
He is the second Cranes star to attract interest from Portugal. Sporting Lisbon put in a bid for striker Geoffrey Massa after his scintillating display against Nigeria.
However, that deal fell through after Massa’s then-Egyptian paymasters, El Shams, failed to agree terms.
An infuriated Massa refused to play for El Shams and the deadlock between player and club was eventually broken when South African soccer side, Jomo Cosmos took on Massa.
If Obua moves to Portugal, he will become only the second Ugandan to play in one of the top 15 countries in Europe.
Magid Musisi played in France and Turkey in the early nineties. Ibrahim Sekagya is in Austria(27th).
Obua’s performance on Saturday came after a ‘hair-dryer’ treatment from coach Laszlo Csaba at halftime with Niger holding Cranes 1-1. Csaba first kicked all cups in the dressing room, then shouted: “That’s not the game I told you to play.
Many of you are professionals and I expect you to stick to my instructions. You must win this match.â€
Csaba is said to have blamed wingers Dan Wagaluka and Obua for failing to make a single cross.
When Obua joined camp on Friday night, hours to kick-off Csaba asked him if he was fit. He answered ‘yes’, to which Csaba warned: “I will take your word. I will trust you.â€
+Ten soccer fans have together shared the sh10m Sports Betting Africa jackpot for the Uganda/Niger game. The ten winners from Mo syndicate club are Masembe Puyu, Emmy Makuma, Duncan Kabwimura, Martin Ssekwe, Julius Opel, Dieter Alinda, David Kalisa, Kaggwa Y Mukasa, Mayanja Bullmosh and Vicky Nandudu. The group of fans placed their bet — ticket number 02140000042— at terminal number 214 at Cooper Complex.
Final Nations Cup qualifiers
October 12:
Sierra Leone v Benin
Togo v Mali
Runners-up table
P W D L F A Pts
*Tunisia 6 4 1 1 12 3 13
*S.Africa 6 3 2 1 10 4 11
Uganda 6 3 2 1 8 3 11
Eq.Guinea 6 3 1 2 6 7 10
Moz’bique 6 2 3 1 5 4 9
DR Congo 6 2 3 1 8 6 9
Algeria 6 2 2 2 6 6 8
Benin 5 2 2 1 8 4 8
*Best three qualify
Douglas Mazune
FIFA soccer agent Mujib Kasule’s cellphone cannot stop ringing. Kasule is turning out to be the victim of David Obua’s heroics at the weekend when Uganda battled to a 3-1 win in their last Nations Cup qualifier.
Soccer agents in Europe have taken notice and want to be the first to get to Obua —for his signature. Obua’s hat-trick might not have earned the Cranes qualification but it could reap a dream professional transfer to Europe for the Kaizer Chiefs talisman.
“I have received calls from unidentified soccer scouts from Portugal who want to know the status of Obua’s contract in South Africa,†Kasule told The New Vision.
“They were not very elaborate. Maybe because I am also a FIFA-registered agent.â€
Kasule said he referred them to Obua’s South Africa-based Serbian agent, Ivica Stankovic.
Obua, who is one of the top four leading scorers in the Nations Cup qualifiers with five goals, has been at South African giants Chiefs for two years.
He is the second Cranes star to attract interest from Portugal. Sporting Lisbon put in a bid for striker Geoffrey Massa after his scintillating display against Nigeria.
However, that deal fell through after Massa’s then-Egyptian paymasters, El Shams, failed to agree terms.
An infuriated Massa refused to play for El Shams and the deadlock between player and club was eventually broken when South African soccer side, Jomo Cosmos took on Massa.
If Obua moves to Portugal, he will become only the second Ugandan to play in one of the top 15 countries in Europe.
Magid Musisi played in France and Turkey in the early nineties. Ibrahim Sekagya is in Austria(27th).
Obua’s performance on Saturday came after a ‘hair-dryer’ treatment from coach Laszlo Csaba at halftime with Niger holding Cranes 1-1. Csaba first kicked all cups in the dressing room, then shouted: “That’s not the game I told you to play.
Many of you are professionals and I expect you to stick to my instructions. You must win this match.â€
Csaba is said to have blamed wingers Dan Wagaluka and Obua for failing to make a single cross.
When Obua joined camp on Friday night, hours to kick-off Csaba asked him if he was fit. He answered ‘yes’, to which Csaba warned: “I will take your word. I will trust you.â€
+Ten soccer fans have together shared the sh10m Sports Betting Africa jackpot for the Uganda/Niger game. The ten winners from Mo syndicate club are Masembe Puyu, Emmy Makuma, Duncan Kabwimura, Martin Ssekwe, Julius Opel, Dieter Alinda, David Kalisa, Kaggwa Y Mukasa, Mayanja Bullmosh and Vicky Nandudu. The group of fans placed their bet — ticket number 02140000042— at terminal number 214 at Cooper Complex.
Final Nations Cup qualifiers
October 12:
Sierra Leone v Benin
Togo v Mali
Runners-up table
P W D L F A Pts
*Tunisia 6 4 1 1 12 3 13
*S.Africa 6 3 2 1 10 4 11
Uganda 6 3 2 1 8 3 11
Eq.Guinea 6 3 1 2 6 7 10
Moz’bique 6 2 3 1 5 4 9
DR Congo 6 2 3 1 8 6 9
Algeria 6 2 2 2 6 6 8
Benin 5 2 2 1 8 4 8
*Best three qualify