FUFA national team coaching reshuffle: Micho, Basena, Kajoba and the vaccancies

Cranes coach Micho (centre) speaks to players during a training session at Kisasi-based Quality School playground | Photo Credit: FUFA Media

FOOTBALL FUFA national team coaching reshuffle: Micho, Basena, Kajoba and the vaccancies

Shafic Kiyaga 16:16 - 30.03.2023

Over the past four years, there have been at least eight coaching changes made, mainly appointed on interim. FUFA’s Executive Committee has agreed to restructure its entire set up of both the senior and youth teams (male and female), opening up permanent slots for several groups.

Uganda football association, FUFA under president Moses Magogo whose tenure has seen the national football teams portfolio grow to up to 10, has confirmed reforms to the management and coaching set up of several national teams.

With an endless stream of players involved with the several national teams, and a flurry of activity involved in preparing for specific engagements, FUFA is determined to find a perpetual solution to management of its national teams.

Over the past four years, there have been at least eight coaching changes made, with majority of those appointed on interim.

FUFA’s Executive Committee has agreed to restructure its entire set up of both the senior and youth teams (male and female), opening up permanent slots for several groups.

"The Executive Committee re-classified our national teams in four categories, and also re classified the technical positions of these teams,” Magogo said on Thursday.

“Outside the Men’s senior national team (Uganda Cranes) and the U23 Boys team, the rest of the coaching positions are declared vacant.”

“We call upon competent Ugandans and non-Ugandans to come and apply for these vacancies.”

But what exactly has FUFA changed? Here we take a closer look at the new categories and expected coaching structures at different levels.

The Senior Men’s National Teams.

This category consists of both the Uganda Cranes and the Uganda Kobs (U23) teams.

The Cranes are currently under Serbian Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic who is still serving a three-year contract he signed in 2021 and still has 15 months to go.

Micho is assisted by one assistant Moses Basena, goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba, a fitness trainer and video analyst among others.

Under the new set up, Basena, Kajoba and the fitness coach will all be handed permanent placements at the national team and also given more responsibility to go with it.

Basena by virtue of being the assistant coach will also be in charge of the Uganda Kobs, which has previously been under any acting Cranes head coach.

Kajoba, the long serving Uganda Cranes goalkeeping coach will also now serve as the head of the FUFA goalkeeping unit, where it will be his duty to keep tabs on all the goalkeepers under the national teams.

The head of the goalkeeping unit will also work with the respective club goalkeeping coaches to oversee individual development.

The fitness trainer will also head the FUFA fitness unit, which will help drive development of fitness regimes for specific national teams and also liaise with fitness coaches at various clubs to formulate and develop fitness programs.

The Junior National Teams.

This category comprises of all the male junior teams including the Uganda Hippos (U20), the Uganda Cubs (U17) and the Uganda Rhinos (U15).

Under the new set up, FUFA has opened up a permanent role for the junior national team head coach who will oversee the activities of all the three junior teams.

The head coach, will work with two assistant coaches – appointed depending on schedule – for the respective under age categories.

There will also be a fitness trainer and a goalkeeper coach who will cut across all the three junior teams.

Under the new set up, all the junior team coaches have been laid off. These include Jackson Mayanja who was handling the Uganda Hippos on interim, and was in charge of the team at the recently concluded U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Hamza Lutalo who has been handling the Uganda Cubs and Jackson Magera who handled the Uganda Rhinos the last time they were in action at the CECAFA U15 championship in Eritrea.

The Female National Teams

This category includes the Crested Cranes – the senior women national team – the Queen Cranes (U20) and the Teen Cranes (U17).

The reshuffle will see all the women national teams be under one head coach who will be handling the Crested Cranes.

The coach will be assisted by two assistants and they will be in charge of the U20 and U17 teams respectively, and supported by a goalkeeping coach and fitness trainer.

The Sand Cranes currently under Angelo Schrinzi will have no changes to their set up, with the Swiss remaining in charge.

The Uganda Futsal national team, The Nile Cranes, will also have one head coach in charge, however it is not clear whether he will be on a permanent contract or will work as per activity.