I have said it before and will say it again. I could be running a risk of being labeled unpatriotic or that ungrateful kid, but Uganda’s wins at the CECAFA senior challenge cup currently in Dar-el-salaam deserve no mention.
Having won the title 11 times is fact enough to rubberstamp our echelon in the region and maybe adds more weight to the teacher Vs student match-up. Kenya has won it 5 times, Ethiopia (4) and three for Tanzania.
Today, the Cecafa is that tournament that should help us pinpoint the next senior team star and not one to arouse national pride with celebration.
The dominance Uganda has had over the region means our progress as a footballing nation can no longer be measured by whether the Cranes win the Cecafa or not. With respect to our “rivals”, a victory for Uganda will be equated to that 100kg 6ft chap who slices an egg and orders champagne for a victory party.
I admit the exposure the younger players get is mentionable and will in turn benefit the senior side. Brian Omony and Tony Mawejje’s brilliant shows and their later elevation to the senior team is testimony to my allegation.
Unlike in South America where Argentina and Brazil are no longer certain of commanding that much respect in the wake of Uruguay and Paraguay, it’s almost blasphemous to look past Uganda in this region.
The yardstick for Uganda’s development in the football world has certainly changed from regional to continental bouts. This doesn’t make the Cecafa irrelevant but just another huddle we have already jumped.
A nation like Kenya is mainly considered our arch-rival not because they ever land punches on us in the Cecafa but when it comes to business for the grown-ups like the AFCON qualifiers, the Harambee stars stand their ground. We go on and dominate teams like Tanzania and Rwanda in the region then celebrate but forget these nations were recently at the Nations cup, something we haven’t done since 1978.
But being Ugandans (sorry for the stereotype), we will jump at every opportunity to hit the bars in celebration and update out nationality on Facebook which makes the Cecafa the biggest tournament we can contest for.
Insist, the Cecafa is no-longer a championship to celebrate.
