Cranes star Mawejje insists he is the best there is

You struggle to envisage a Uganda Cranes midfield without Tonny Mawejje and you are at pains. The conductor ceases to exist, the engine becomes dysfunctional, and serenity vanishes from the park.
And that indictment with much respect to Sofapaka’s Musa Mudde, Altay’s Hassan Wasswa, and Bunnamwaya’s Owen Kasule et al, who can all just execute Mawejje’s role. But just.

The IBV midfielder isn’t Xavi Hernandez of Barcelona or Manchester United’s Paul Scholes in his hey days, but his reassurance on the ball, his crisp short and visionary long searching passes could draw slight comparisons with the aforementioned.

But Mawejje’s greatest gift is the luxurious arrogance with which he believes in his abilities. Before the 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Kenya in Nairobi a fortnight ago, he bragged he was a better player than Harambee Stars’ McDonald Mariga.

Even below his own standards, Mawejje was Uganda’s best outfield player on the day but Mariga’s class shone through. When the European Champions League winner with Inter Milan, who hit the wood work twice, had possession, Cranes froze. But keeper Denis Onyango complemented the woodwork with some stellar saves to keep Mariga off the score sheet.

Two weeks on, one would be interested to know whether Mawejje maintains his earlier assertions about the Kenyan midfielder.
“For me, any midfielder you bring against me, I’ll say am still a better player. I know my self and know what I can do,” said the dark skinned usually reserved Mawejje, a shy smile giving away his tough talk.

He told Sunday Monitor he didn’t even think about facing Mariga because he didn’t read the story until after the match. “It didn’t even cross my mind. Well, all I can say now is that in Kenya, he (Mariga) was at home and it was his time,” said Mawejje, clad in brown-tanned top on blue jeans.
Mutual respect
“My time is also coming when we play them here. It’s not about me and Mariga but what I’m saying is whoever you bring against me, I’ll still be better.”

Mawejje wasn’t, however, lost on respect. He said of the usually calm and shy Mariga. “But he is a great…no…he is a good player who will be a great player if he continues doing what he is doing. He is very clever. You don’t play for Inter Milan by accident.”

Just like Cranes coach Bobby Williamson – the man Mawejje holds in high regard -, when the team came out for warm up at Nyayo stadium, they were awed with what they saw. “I had never seen so many Ugandan fans at an away game. After the warm up, the coach told us in the dressing room that ‘You have seen them. They have spent their own money and spent the whole day seated in buses. Go out there and fight for the nation. Go give them reason to return home happy.’ “My self, I was so touched. I said to my self that I had to pay back.”

Twenty four years in November, Mawejje grew up in the Ugandan town of Masaka admiring Real Madrid great Fernando Redondo. He also enjoyed watching Scholes in the last decade and savours Real’s Xabi Alonso. He, however, came to football limelight while at Masaka LC before moving to KCC, then Police and later URA.

But this boy harboured some dream. A dream that saw him fly 5069.18 miles (9.05 hours) from Uganda to Iceland last year where he now turns out for Premier League side IBV.

On landing in Iceland last, he was met with a masterclass of harsh winter conditions that made him long for a minute of Kampala scorch. “At first it was terrible,” he says. “My fingers and toes would freeze and I found it hard to play comfortably. But now it’s normal.”

Mawejje, a self confessed born again Christian for the last four years, is, however, not done with the dream yet. He dreams of playing for one of his beloved clubs Arsenal or Barcelona one day but admits it’s a tough ask.

“I believe so much in God. I didn’t know where I would be five years ago and I don’t know where I will be five years from now. But my prayer is that he makes me play for a bigger club in Europe..
And those prayers could be answered soon as he is due trials with one of the top sides in Norway this week. His contract with IBV has a clause that prohibits him from signing for another club in Iceland.

Mawejje, an A’ level drop out at Masaka Secondary School, doesn’t regret leaving class when he did but is hasten to encourage aspiring footballers to stick in there. “I urge them to take both education and football seriously. You need them both.”

The midfielder, like most Ugandan footballers, is, however, reluctant to discuss his wages, which he says is decent. But he would love more. Good enough, he is putting some of it to good use.
“I’m into real estate. I’m now one year into the business but I won’t tell much on that now. But as players, we know that we won’t play football forever.”

For now, though, the midfielder will fully focus on the game. Especially with the country longing to break the 34-year-old murky of not qualifying for the Nations Cup.

“All we have to do is continue focusing. We have started well and we shouldn’t relax. While there have been some hindrances like ticket delays, late player requests to their clubs in the past, they have so far been addressed. This time the government, the federation, the players and the fans are all been behind us.” But one area that has been lacking in Mawejje’s otherwise unblemished game is finding the net for Cranes, his last goal coming in the 2008 Cecafa.

“I am not losing sleep over that since the team is scoring goals. If it’s your time, no one will stop you. But that doesn’t mean I’m not working on that, hopefully I will score soon.” Hopefully.

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The midfielder at a sneak

• Best local teammate: Vincent Kayizzi (FK Srem, Serbia) and Simeon Masaba (URA)
  “I share a lot with these two. We click naturally.”
• Best foreign teammate: Dennis Syniks – Ukrainian (IBV, Iceland)
  “I think it’s because he also speaks English. He is the one I talk to most of the time and he helped me a lot when I had just joined.”
• IBV Prankster: Ingo Vingui - Icelandic
  “He never stops talking. At the training, in the dressing room, everywhere. Even when we have lost a game, he will give reason to smile.”
• Local career role model: Edgar Watson (former Villa midfielder)
  “I admired the way he played. He was also disciplined.”
• International career role model: Fernando Redondo – Argentine
  I watched Real Madrid a lot during his time. So I found my self in love with his genius. I also like Paul Scholes and Xabi Alonso.”
• Local toughest opponent: Hakim Magumba (former Villa midfielder)
  “My first game against him was when we (Masaka) played Villa. His moves were too fast for me.”
• International toughest opponent: Hally (Hauk FC)
  “I remember it was a Cup game against a lower division side. This guy was allover me and he hit my knee and I was out for six weeks, the longest in my career and the most serious injury I’ve ever suffered.”
• Lifestyle in Iceland: “I’m not a party animal, which is why I’ve kept going. When I’m not playing, I’m relaxing in a hot tab or watching a movie.”
• Ugandan girls v Iceland girls: “Ugandan gals are the best.” But hold the excitement there Ugandan girls. He is heavily engaged to someone he won’t name here. “Ha ha…but at least she is Ugandan.”
• Easy food in Iceland: Rice, bread and Irish.
• Favourite car: Sports ca