Legendary Bwalya option splits opinion

End of the road? Basena (L) had Matia Lule, Ibrahim Sekagya and Fred Kajoba in his ranks. He still wants the job. PHOTO BY E. CHICCO

What you need to know:

  • Cranes coaching job. The Zambian and African legend was on Wednesday named by Fufa to lead a committee to search for Uganda Cranes permanent coach to replace Micho Sredojevic.
  • Moses Basena is the Cranes interim coach.

Football legend Kalusha Bwalya and four others officially start vetting applicants for Uganda Cranes coaching job late October as Fufa look to replace Serbian Micho Sredojevic, who quit over arrears.
The Zambian icon’s inclusion on the committee has been welcomed by some and drawn murmur from others.
“He is one unique African with many attributes,” said Fufa CEO Edgar Watson, who is also on Bwalya’s committee, “He has been head Caf Technical Committee, a legendary footballer, coached national team, a president of a federation (Zambia) and is neutral in terms of the Ugandan football status.

Correct choice
“His experience on the globe will give us that quality we need in determining our next coach.”
Former Cranes coach and current KCCA manager Mike Mutebi is one of those that believe Fufa have made a great choice.
“It is a correct choice,” said Mutebi, “My thinking is, when Kalusha Bwalya was the president of the association, he educated so many coaches through the Dutch FA.
“I think Magogo (Moses, Fufa president) appointed him to try to get an identity of the Dutch. And probably he thinks Kalusha Bwalya might be the right man to get one of those coaches in Zambia who are educated properly to come here.”

No disrespect
Mutebi added: “Another thing, those coaches in Zambia fit in our psychology. I wouldn’t say he was appointed to water down some of our people.
“This man is a legend, he knows African football very well, and most importantly that he stayed in Europe - the Netherlands.
“And when he became Zambian FA president the first thing he did was educate local coaches, possibly Magogo is looking at that.”
But Caf instructor and Proline coach Mujib Kasule disagrees with Fufa’s choice. “Personally,” he said, “I don’t agree. Kalusha Bwalya has a lot of respect. He has done so much for football, but at the end of the day he is Zambian.

No confidence vote
“We have the structures here, as Fufa has always said, we have a technical committee, we have Caf instructors, we have seasoned administrators, and choosing a national team coach is not rocket science.
“So for Fufa to disregard their own and find somebody out there to come and do the job of appointing a local coach, I think is a mistake.
“In short, Fufa is telling everybody that ‘look, we have not been doing any work here. We do not have anybody who can do this job.” The new Cranes coach will be announced on November 15.