Uganda hopes for a return to the glory days
In an era when dictator Idi Amin would interrupt football training to offer advice and bundles of cash, Uganda made it all the way to the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Yet in the nearly 40 years that followed that surprise success, the “Cranes” — named after the national bird — never again soared to such dizzy heights.
The current squad, the first to qualify for the tournament since, is hoping to change that in Gabon where the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations takes place from January 14 to February 5.
The players, like most of their supporters, are too young to remember the glory days of Uganda’s last appearance. “Times were different then. There was full government support for sports. We got everything we wanted,” said Jimmy Kirunda, who captained the 1978 team during Amin’s reign.
The dictator ruled from 1971 to 1979 and, when he was not committing widespread abuses, issuing eccentric dictates or sending bizarre missives to world leaders, was an eager sportsman and fan who opened the government purse to the country’s stars.
“He often came to us during training sessions to morale-boost us, especially before games against outside teams from Tanzania or Zambia, countries he considered his enemies,” said then-defender Tom Lwanga.
“He would pull out bundles of US dollars out of his pockets and give us, at times, $200 or $300. At the time it was a lot of money. Everyone in the team would rejoice and fight to ensure we don’t disappoint him in return.”
“He would at times show us some tricks to tackle our opponents; that was the passion he had for the team,” said Lwanga.
Known to some as Big Daddy, to others as the Butcher of Uganda, Amin made a point of personally seeing players off to tournaments abroad.
Victories were generously rewarded. Once, after they had beaten Tanzania, Amin sent his personal plane to fetch the players.
Mike Diku, another former defender who played in the 1978 African Cup team, said that players who were also in the armed forces could expect to be promoted when they performed well.
But there was fear too, especially in defeat. None of the players knew how the famously unpredictable autocrat might react.“We were also aware that his goodwill couldn’t be abused,” said Lwanga. “It was motivation, of sorts. We always put up our best performance.”
The team was also protected from criticism. One journalist was forced into exile after writing articles deemed “demoralising” to the players.
Most of the present 23 squad members play their football in the anonymity of second-division competitions. They are counting on the Cup of Nations to show off their skills and win them better contracts. —
geopolitical narrative. Of course silverware is the ambition for any pro footballer but with the ink still drying on the World Cup Expansion documents, all those in favour of the proposal will be hoping for a tournament filled with quality performances. A dour exhibition will provide the naysayers with the ammunition they need to dismiss African teams as nothing more than Polyfilla. This is not just a tournament for continental supremacy; this year’s edition is a chance to prove that Africans deserve more space at the big table of the world’s game. — AFP