U-20 side can soar from the ashes
Aug 08, 2010
SOMEONE once told me that it is from the ashes of defeat that great things emerge. I got a similar feeling after Uganda’s Africa Youth Championship defeat by Egypt.
I SAY SO
James Bakama
SOMEONE once told me that it is from the ashes of defeat that great things emerge. I got a similar feeling after Uganda’s Africa Youth Championship defeat by Egypt.
After being beaten in Cairo, our youths put up a great show in Friday’s return leg. Many left the stadium convinced that much as we had failed to qualify to the next stage, we have great football potential.
You had to be at Nakivubo to see the depth of Uganda’s talent. For the first time in close to three decades, Uganda, a punching bag for North African teams, made Egypt look ordinary.
Had it not been for some Tunisian referee’s sloppy officiation in Cairo, plus a bit of tactical naivety and carelessness in front of goal, Egypt wouldn’t have edged us out.
In Kampala the Egyptians were for long spells on the ropes. Our boys, though physically inferior, could do virtually everything with the ball.
In our goal scorer Dennis Guma, I could see an emerging Tom Lwanga. He has Lwanga’s skill, poise plus penetrative ability far beyond his years.
In left full back Alex Kakuba I saw a priceless gem. No wonder Romanian legend Hristo Stoichkov, who coached Kakuba in South Africa, rated the teenager at the same level with the world’s very best.
Is it also surprising that teenagers like Sula Matovu and Sadam Juma are already hot cakes in the senior national side?
What is however common with Uganda’s football is that such talents or even better ones will always emerge only fizzle out.
Our football talent is actually better at U-13 and U-15 level where we have won the equivalent of the World Cup in the Gothia and Tivoli tournaments.
What happens thereafter is a continual loss of sparkle that by say U-20 level has us relegated to ordinary competitors in Africa.
It’s all about lack of proper grooming. We lack a system that guarantees maturity of our teenage talent to the senior team level.It is at this point of transformation that the Peles, Maradonas or Cruyffs are moulded. That is exactly why our best teachers should focus on this very delicate stage of growth.
With the right kind of attention, our U-20 side can not only blossom into a great Olympic team, but also one of Africa’s teams at the 2014 World Cup finals.
The good news is that we shall follow up our continental exit by featuring in the CECAFA U-20 Championship starting this week. Next on FUFA’s agenda should be the London 2012 Olympic qualifiers next year.
Like the proverbial phoenix we have the potential of rising from Friday’s ashes to great heights.
James Bakama
SOMEONE once told me that it is from the ashes of defeat that great things emerge. I got a similar feeling after Uganda’s Africa Youth Championship defeat by Egypt.
After being beaten in Cairo, our youths put up a great show in Friday’s return leg. Many left the stadium convinced that much as we had failed to qualify to the next stage, we have great football potential.
You had to be at Nakivubo to see the depth of Uganda’s talent. For the first time in close to three decades, Uganda, a punching bag for North African teams, made Egypt look ordinary.
Had it not been for some Tunisian referee’s sloppy officiation in Cairo, plus a bit of tactical naivety and carelessness in front of goal, Egypt wouldn’t have edged us out.
In Kampala the Egyptians were for long spells on the ropes. Our boys, though physically inferior, could do virtually everything with the ball.
In our goal scorer Dennis Guma, I could see an emerging Tom Lwanga. He has Lwanga’s skill, poise plus penetrative ability far beyond his years.
In left full back Alex Kakuba I saw a priceless gem. No wonder Romanian legend Hristo Stoichkov, who coached Kakuba in South Africa, rated the teenager at the same level with the world’s very best.
Is it also surprising that teenagers like Sula Matovu and Sadam Juma are already hot cakes in the senior national side?
What is however common with Uganda’s football is that such talents or even better ones will always emerge only fizzle out.
Our football talent is actually better at U-13 and U-15 level where we have won the equivalent of the World Cup in the Gothia and Tivoli tournaments.
What happens thereafter is a continual loss of sparkle that by say U-20 level has us relegated to ordinary competitors in Africa.
It’s all about lack of proper grooming. We lack a system that guarantees maturity of our teenage talent to the senior team level.It is at this point of transformation that the Peles, Maradonas or Cruyffs are moulded. That is exactly why our best teachers should focus on this very delicate stage of growth.
With the right kind of attention, our U-20 side can not only blossom into a great Olympic team, but also one of Africa’s teams at the 2014 World Cup finals.
The good news is that we shall follow up our continental exit by featuring in the CECAFA U-20 Championship starting this week. Next on FUFA’s agenda should be the London 2012 Olympic qualifiers next year.
Like the proverbial phoenix we have the potential of rising from Friday’s ashes to great heights.