Bobby Williamson sacked

By Pius Arinawe 

Uganda Cranes coach Bobby Williamson has been relieved of his duties as the coach of the national football team, the Cranes. 

Williamson who took the reins in August 2008 from Hungarian Laszlo Czaba in the middle of the Nations cup qualification campaign, has paid the price for failing to guide Uganda through various qualification campaigns for Africa’s top soccer showpiece. 

The Scot had come under increasing pressure after failing to qualify for AFCON 2013 at the expense of defending champions Zambia and last month’s crushing 2-0 defeat away to Liberia which left the Cranes with an uphill task to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

FUFA spokesman Rogers Mulindwa made the dramatic announcement during the weekly press briefing at the federation’s headquarters in Mengo.

“The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) hereby informs the general public that a notice of termination of contract has this Monday 8th April 2013 been given to the Cranes head Coach Mr. Roberts ‘Bobby’ Williamson,” read the statement from the governing body.

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FUFA spokesperson Rogers Mulindwa delivers news of Williamson's sacking during the brief address. PHOTO/Mpalanyi Ssentongo.

“The Emergency Committee of FUFA sitting today took the decision of notice in compliance with the contract of employment and other relevant labour laws.” 

Williamson’s contract whose details were shrouded in secrecy, still had 17 months to run.

Mulindwa however remained tight-lipped on when Williamson’s successor would be named or who it would be when fielding questions from the media.

“The technical committee will sit in due time to decide who will take over,” was all Mulindwa said before ending what was a very brief press conference. 

Despite failing to deliver Uganda to the promised land of AFCON qualification, Williamson departs having won the CECAFA Cup four times, a record for a coach, in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012.

Uganda was ranked 96th in the world by FIFA when Williamson took over and he guided the Cranes to their highest ever ranking when they peaked at 63rd position in September 2010. He now leaves Uganda ranked 85th in the world and 22nd in Africa. 

The 2012 CECAFA triumph has been the only bright spot of Williamson's final 6 months of his tenure. In February, Williamson was forced to deny he had applied for the vacant Kenya job.