JMC Hippos's Walangalira tips young players

Just a few days after being crowned as last season's best defender, JMC Hippos 's Musa Walangalira, 34, has tipped players on how to maintain fitness.

''Players have to put in a lot of endurance in training. You have to listen and work hard enough in training as well as in the match. You have to be disciplined in training sessions. Listen to your coaches, no matter how old you are. You must respect the referee's decisions, your opponent, your fellow teammates and fans irrespective of whether you are losing or winning.

Do not get carried away by money or other issues that may cause match fixing or else you lose the name you have built for years with your football. On the other hand you must try to avoid taking alcohol and other drugs during your career as this may make you lose your fitness , discipline and respect,'' said Walangalira.

He made the remarks after JMC Hippos FC's training session on Monday morning at Kakindu Stadium.

Walangalira featured in all the club's league games last season at the heart of the defence where the club exhibited some of the finest displays in the league.

They enjoyed a 1-0 win over rivals BUL FC, a 2-0 win over Express, a 3-0 win over Sadolin Paints, a 3-1 win over Police and a resounding 4-0 win over stubborn Soana among other results.

Walangalira began his football career as a defender for Buwenda FC in Jinja's first division of 2002 where he partnered Cranes defender Isaac Isinde.

He moved to play for JMC Hippos, then Iganga Municipal Council, Police before he moved back to JMC in 2013.

His fine displays helped the club attain Uganda Super League status in the 2014/15 Big League season where he spearheaded his side in the playoffs with a 6-2 demolition of local rivals Kirinya Jinja SS.