Uganda’s Cranes want to reach heights of ’78 again
“He would pull 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.”
Known to some as “Big Daddy” and 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 beating Tanzania, Amin sent his personal plane to fetch the players.
Mike Diku, another former defender who played in the 1978 Afcon team, said 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, with none of the players knowing how the famously erratic and unpredictable autocrat might react.
“We were also aware that his goodwill couldn’t be abused,” said Lwanga. “It was motivation, SPORTS NUT: Former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin opened the national purse to players 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.
When they arrived in Ghana for the 1978 tournament, they were by far the underdogs.
Despite regularly qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, Uganda had never made it past the first round and in 1978 drew a tough group that included reigning champions Morocco. But to everyone’s surprise, The Cranes won the match and won over the crowds.
“All our opponents were [former] French colonies,” said Diku, who reckons his team’s READY FOR THE FIGHT: Uganda’s national football team poses for the official picture before the 2018 World Cup Group E qualifying football match between Uganda and Congo, at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala “English background, plus our attractive short passing game” earned them the support of the home crowd in Ghana, a fellow former British colony.
“This continued to the semifinals when we met Ghana’s archrivals Nigeria.”
The final saw Uganda lose 2-0 to the host Ghana. After years in the footballing wilderness, during which quarrels between clubs and the federation stymied the national team, Uganda are on the up: The Cranes were named National Team of the Year at this month’s Confederation of African Football (Caf) awards in Abuja, Nigeria, and goalkeeper Denis Onyango was named Player of the Year (Africa-based).
Observers attribute the team’s renewal to talented individuals like Onyango, the skills of Serbian manager Milutin Sredojevic and a modest injection of government cash.
That financial support allowed Uganda to travel to play warmup matches against other national sides rather than local clubs. But drawn against established giants Ghana, Egypt and Mali, minnows Uganda have much to prove in their group matches. Most of the 23 team members play in the anonymity of second-division competitions and they are counting on the Africa Cup of Nations to show off their skills and win better contracts. That is a dream never realised by the players of 1978. — AFP