Over the years, Ugandan footballers have secured moves abroad but not many find themselves in the top footballing nations in the world. Reigning FUFA footballer of the year Bobosi Byaruhanga is the latest to move to one of the top 13 footballing nations after signing for Major League Soccer Next Pro side Austin II.
In the past, Uganda has exported footballing talent to Europe and to America, However, only a few see the end of their contracts or even extend their stay at these clubs.
Most of our best players have on many occasions settled for clubs that to many do not match their potential. The latest disappointment is the reigning FUFA best player Bobosi Bryaruhanga.
After bossing the midfield for the Under 20 team, Vipers Sports Club and the senior national team, scoring goals of all fashions, the youngster was indeed a deserved winner for the biggest individual award in Ugandan football. A move away from Vipers was a question of when not if.
To many, his talent would land him in one of the top 10 leagues in Europe. Yet somehow after periods of speculation, he ended up in a one Vyskov Football Club in Czech Republic.
After just months, Byaruhanga moves to Next Pro league newcomers Austin II on loan.
Bobosi joins an ever-increasing list of Ugandan footballers who have secured moves to Europe and the Americas. Last year, both Sadat Anaku and Enock Walusimbi moved to Scotland, Mustafa Kizza had a short-lived stint in Portuguese Arouca while Ibrahim Juma was signed by Spanish side CD Leganes.
Proline FC Director Mujib Kasule who has groomed and helped several players secure moves abroad points the failures of some footballers to the agents.
“Right now the only reason people base on to place players some where is money and that is very wrong there could be a lot of money there, if we don’t have people who are behind these players the agents will continue to mislead them because for them their interest is about money.”
However, the blame does not only fall to the agents.
“We have seen parents also misleading their players because of money, so parents also are so greed” Mujib added.
While Geoffrey Kayemba, a player agent says that “our role as agents is to take players where they can get more mileage and development” and he adds that “a player can become successfully in any league, depending on he works, his discipline and the professional minds he has”.
On how best the players can be prepared, Mujib says they need to go through several stages before moving abroad. “When you nurture, develop and expose you get a complete quality player, nurturing players involves teaching him the reasons why he plays football; developing teaching him what to do in the different stages of his growth and exposure means we place our players in the best competition possible”
It is inevitable that Ugandan players will be scouted at the Confederation of African Nations Championship which starts on Friday. However, where they end up remains a mystery but if a number of them are to secure deals in better leagues, the performance of the team needs to stand out.
At CHAN, Uganda is in group B alongside two-time winners DR Congo, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
