Kwesi reveals three-fold mission for youth soccer
New era for youth football. Fufa President Magogo (right) unveiling Kwesi at Fufa headquarters yesterday. PHOTO BY John Batanudde
What you need to know:
- Soccer. He prides in unearthing players like Sulley Muntari, Kwadoh Asamoah and Dominic Adiyiah among others
Kampala. The fact that newly appointed Uganda U-17 (Cubs) and Uganda U-20 (Hippos) coach Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin knows a thing or two about Ugandan football gives a glimmer of hope that he is the man destined to give youth football the much needed breathe.
“I have known Uganda since 1978 when they had Philip Omondi (RIP) and Paul Ssali. I follow Onyango in South Africa and I have handled Joseph Ochaya at Asante Kotoko,” the 60-year-old youth football expert said yesterday after being unveiled by Fufa in Mengo on a one-year contract.
His big task starts in just a month’s time but Kwesi seems ready to take it on full throttle.
“I’m here to introduce attacking football, make a team that can score and defend well but above be fit and physical.”
“Out of my own resources I’m bringing in my own fitness coach (Derrick Owusu) on Monday when I return to begin work and he will gradually improve the fitness levels of the team that I watched via YouTube while playing Tanzania,” he revealed.
Kwesi has had stints with Heart of Lions, Inter Allies FC, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko SC in his largely illustrious career.
He led Ghana to the final of the U17 AFCON in Gabon in 2017 and also guided the team to the FIFA U17 World Cup in India in 2017.
He prides in unearthing players like Sulley Muntari, Kwadoh Asamoah, and Dominic Adiyiah among others and envisages a time when Uganda can also serve Europe with budding talents. “Six of the boys I handled in 2013 are now with the national team. I intend to invite some scouting friends in Europe to come and see Ugandan players because we have to open up Ugandan football to the world like it is in West Africa,” he added. “We have had the position of the U-17 national team head coach vacant and as Fufa, we looked for someone who has experience with the young players, a person who has contacts.
Currently the market in Europe looks at young players,” Fufa president Magogo said, hastily adding that his vast experience stood him in good stead above the rest.
Before heading to Tanzania for the Afcon finals, Kwesi will camp with the team in South Africa for ten days.
