Wasswa relieved by Egypt switch

Definition Of Hard Work. Defensive midfielder Wasswa has coaches Basena and Kajoba to thank for his latest contract with Egyptian topflight side Al Gaish. PHoto BY Eddie Chicco

What you need to know:

  • El-Gaish’s representatives were in Kampala to watch the midfielder play against the Pharaohs last week. The deal was agreed around the same time but the player was unveiled after Tuesday night’s return leg between Uganda Cranes and Egypt in Alexandria.

KAMPALA. It was relief for Hassan Wasswa after the Uganda Cranes midfielder sealed his move to Egypt’s Tala’a El-Gaish on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Lebanese outfit Al-Nejmeh.
“It’s all about my hard work,” Wasswa told Sunday Monitor after being unveiled at his new club, “I thank coach Basena (Moses), coach Kajoba (Fred), who believed in me even when I never had a team.
“They knew I can give 100 per cent to the team and that’s what I did. I’m so happy and now it’s time to focus on the new team and get set for the new season.”

Tough times
Wasswa also pointed out Cranes captain Denis Onyango for standing by him when things were tough.
“Denis Onyango always pushed me to not giving up because he knew what I can do and he told me anytime a club will come knocking,” said Wasswa,
“Now the chance is here and I have grabbed it with both hands.” Pictures of Wasswa being unveiled went live on Wednesday following his solid performances against Egypt in the back-to-back 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Uganda lost to a Mohamed Salah goal on Tuesday night to return to the summit of Group E with nine points - two more than Uganda - who had beaten the Pharaohs by the same 1-0 scoreline five days earlier in Kampala. Emmanuel Okwi scored Uganda’s goal.
Wasswa signed a three-year contract with El-Gaish, becoming the latest addition as the military side continue boosting their squad in preparations for the upcoming season.
Other El-Gaish’s new signings include Moaz El-Hennawy, Mohamed Nassef, Salah Amin and Togolese international Camaldine Abraw, who recently signed a two-year contract.
The stout defender-cum-midfielder has previously played for KCCA (then KCC), Vipers SC and SC Villa among other Ugandan sides.

Thirty next year, Wasswa has also had a number of stints in Turkey with Kardemir Karabükspor, Altay Izmir and Kayseri Erciyesspor among others.

Aucho on the move
Wasswa’s new club, El-Gaish, finished the 2016/17 season in seventh place and opened their new campaign against champions Al Ahly on Friday.
Elsewhere, Wasswa’s midfield partner Khalid Aucho was also said to be highly sought after by El-Gaish and Egyptian giants Zamalek, with inquiries about Zambia-based defender Isaac Isinde being heard.
Sunday Monitor learnt that Aucho missed breakfast at Alexandria’s Radisson Blue Hotel to negotiate a move to five-time African champions Zamalek, with a deal reportedly agreed for him to move from Serbia to North Africa.

Transfer window troubles
As a free agent, Aucho – just like Wasswa – would have no problem moving despite the closure of the transfer window in Egypt.
Sources informed this newspaper that Aucho signed a two-year deal but when asked, all the former Simba defender could confirm was that he was “staying in Egypt to work on something over the next week.”
Should all go according to plan, Aucho would walk in the path of Wasswa, Jackson Mayanja (El Masry) and Geoffrey Massa (El Masry, El Shams and Itesalat) to have played in Egypt.