Micho is in good stead

And at the time, Micho had registered just eight wins, an equal number of draws and nine losses in 25 games, a 32 per cent winning rate, on top of never wining Rwanda anything in his one year or so reign.

Here he was replacing Bobby, a man who had not done stupendously well as the Scot failed on three attempts to guide Uganda to the Nations Cup. But he was replacing a man who had done better than him (in Rwanda) in winning 34 times, drawing 18 and losing 14 - a 51.5 per cent winning rate – in 66 games for Cranes.

Bobby had also cemented his regional prowess by clinching four Cecafa titles in five years, one of them beating Micho’s Rwanda in the final. Now Micho had to not only live up to that regionally, but do what Bobby failed to do on the continent and, if possible - the world. That was some task. No wonder several people wrote Micho off immediately after he was unveiled, branding him old wine in a new bottle. Not yours truly, not my Rwandan friend. “I can never bet against that man,” my Rwandan colleague, also an official of the Rwandan FA, told me at the time. “Once that man puts his mind and energy on something, he gives it his all. He was only unlucky with us and the talent was not that good here.”

He had a point. And just like I did in my very first column back in May, my friend opined that the Serb be given time; that with the talent Uganda has, Micho would come through well.
And look. In just three months, he has won five of his seven games, the two defeats being friendlies away to Libya and Egypt. That is 71 per cent winning rate.

The victories included World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Angola, Chan qualifying ties against Tanzania – therein equaling Bobby’s feat in 2011 when the Scot led Uganda to the Sudan edition, and victory in a friendly over Botswana.

In all this, Micho’s known personality as a football man has shone through, his emphasis on discipline and hard work for rewards never lost. The Serb thinks and talks football – at an outing, dinner, on his steering wheel, on phone. He lives football.

His attention to detail is unmatched locally and he will do research on his opponents to the point that he knows more about them than they know themselves.
Micho is blessed to have contacts in places that matter in football, also has friends that matter.

This saw the Serb secure the Libya friendly even before he was unveiled as Cranes coach. He as well sheltered the Egypt and Botwana build-up matches, and secured the camp in Istanbul.
And he knows the depth and ability of his players; he also admits a good number have not been active in their clubs and that they must make up in the remaining few days.
“The game in Botswana and camp in Istanbul is meant to help some of the players that have not been playing with their clubs to have some action,” he told us earlier.

“This will help us bridge that gap with Senegal whose players play every week in top leagues in Europe.”
Micho’s man-management has earned himself his coaches, Fufa, and players respect and his motivational self has eternal optimists believing Uganda can go past Senegal this Saturday to grace the final stage of World Cup qualification.

It is a tough task given that Uganda have never beaten Senegal anywhere and that the Lions of Teranga have better names – at least on paper. Micho was last week quick to point to football in 90 minutes as their only chance against the admittedly superior Senegalese. And like my Rwandan friend advised, it is paramount that we give the Serb a footballing chance.

Kiprotich meet & greet more than meets the eye

As Uganda Cranes march onto the turf of Marrakech Stadium to put their bodies on the line for the country on Saturday, another special occasion at Namboole will have been in action hours earlier.

And Ugandans – both those that have had a chance to meet and greet and those that have not will catch up with the Olympic and World marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich in flesh.

This is one picture every Ugandan would love to take this year, for there has not been a greater Ugandan.
The man, who – like in London last year - beat a cast of Ethiopians and Kenyans to win the 42km race on the beautiful streets of Moscow last month, will be hosted by Mandela National Stadium, Namboole (MNS) in conjunction with Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) as tribute for his feat.

But it will not be just meet and greet for the Kapchorwa-born athlete. A 1000-seater hall at Namboole will be named after the marathoner in honour of his contributions to the country.
The stadium management, according to the Managing Director Jamil Ssewanyana, has also allocated land at Namboole where they will establish a Sports and Injury Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, all on the back of super Kip deeds. “We are developing a concept before we propose it to relevant people for funding,” said Ssewanyana, “It will go a long way in helping athletes from all sports disciplines.”

Fans will have to part with Shs5,000 and Shs10,000 to be part of this special occasion that will also see children athletics teams run, Prisons - where Kiprotich works, and Police teams do exhibitions.

On the same day, Kiprotich will also be involved in planting trees on an area earmarked by the stadium – from the Northern to the Eastern gate. This is done in conjunction with football referees and National Forestry Authority (NFA).

This will not be your densely populated trees but well placed trees to improve on oxygen of athletes training at the stadium and lessen pollution. It’ll also be healthy for anyone who may decide to carry a novel to the area on one of those hot afternoons.