Bayo turned down big money for better path

Uganda Cranes striker Fahad Bayo will next month join the rest of his teammates for national duty against South Sudan due November 9-17.
He will be arriving from Israel, but could as well have arrived from Morocco’s largest city of Casablanca, or Johannesburg – South Africa’s commercial heart.
The 22-year-old will touch down from Israel’s sixth-largest city of Ashdod, situated in the Southern District of the country – along the Mediterranean Coast.

That’s a decision Bayo made some three months ago after consultations with his representatives, and Cranes coach Johnny McKinstry.
After finishing joint second on the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) scoring charts with 12 goals, one behind the leader, and impressive performances with the Cranes; suitors queued.

Given that the striker had played for Vipers for one season and helped them to the league title, and that he had only one year left on his contract, they were ready to cash in.
The offers
They valued him at $150,000 (Shs559m) but one of the first suitors, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, initialy offered $70,000 (Shs261m) to Vipers.
The push and shove went on and finally the two clubs settled for $110,000 (Shs410m) for the player. 
Meanwhile, Moroccan giants, Wydad Casablanca, were also looking for a physically gifted striker and had been led to Bayo. 

Their offer to Vipers was $100,000 (Shs373m) and $6,000 (Shs22m) per month to Bayo, plus other additions like bonuses, accommodation and the like. 
The decision
Bayo’s head was by now spinning. But a call from Israel, and the path it provided to having a better chance to playing in better European clubs, turned the player’s head.
Speaking on KFM Sports on Saturday, Cranes coach McKinstry offered to explain why Bayo opted for Israel ahead of Sundowns and Wydad.
“Bayo accepted less money from North Africa to go to Israel,” said McKinstry, “And I’m happy he made the decision he made.
“I’ll share this and I know Bayo will be okay with me sharing it. I had a chat with him when all these offers were tabled.

“I asked him, at 23 (22), what do you want in life? 
“I told him if playing at better clubs in Europe is what you want, then your chances of those clubs buying you from Europe are higher. They rarely buy directly from Africa.
“You may not get another chance, so you might as well get this. But again, ultimately the decision to go where he went rested on the player, you’ve got to make that decision yourself.”

McKinstry, who deployed Bayo in attack as Uganda won last year’s Cecafa Senior Championship in Kampala, added: It’s not always about money, but your long term ambitions.”
Of course, Israeli side Ashdod matched Wydad’s $100,000 (Shs373m) for the player at Vipers, but the above were all below Sundowns’ figure.
The Masandawana’s personal terms with the player are not exactly clear but this newspaper understands that at $6,000 (Shs22m) per month, Wydad were offering more.
But that Bayo’s final choice, Ashdod, who offered between $4,000 and $5,000 (Shs14m-18m) per month plus add-ons – way below Wydad’s; and the player still settled for it shows where his head is.

Previous experiences
Previous experiences of Ugandan players in Morocco could also have informed Bayo’s decision.
Players like Muhammad Shaban, Murushid Juuko, Milton Karisa and Patrick Kaddu among others never really got it going, there.
The above all left their Moroccan clubs faster than their signed contracts, complaining of contractual breaches and no playing time.

On the other hand, Ugandan defender Timothy Awany’s presence at Ashdod is also said to have made Bayo’s decision even easier.
Bayo has so far featured in two of Ashdod’s three 2020/21 league matches.
Ashdod are fourth on the table but level on six points with the top three. 

Quick lowdown
Started out at Lugazi Youth Academy and Friends Of Soccer Academy.
Copa Schools tourney in 2014. Also won the trophy with Kibuli SS
Joined Proline FC in 2014 before leaving for Zambian Buildcon in 2018.
Joined Vipers last year and made his national team debut the same year. 
Won Cecafa Cup with Uganda in Kampala in December 2019

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