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Uganda Cranes, just like any other team, goes through eras. The current regime is fading off and should be paving the way for a new generation led by the most talented of their generation.
When Tanzania beat Uganda Cranes 1-0 in match day three of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier hosted in Egypt, there were cries all over that the team needed an overhaul.
The fans and stakeholders generally thought it wise for some of the old guards to leave the scene for fresh blood.
Cranes’ coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, did the needful and made four changes for the return leg.
Among the crucial ones was slotting in former Vipers striker Richard Basangwa in the striking line for Farouk Miya, then Siraje Ssentamu for a more enterprising Bobosi Byaruhanga and then Isma Mugulusi to take up Emmanuel OKwi’s role in the right-wing as the latter moved into the box to replace Fahad Bayo.
Now, the three -Bobosi, Basangwa and Mugulusi- alongside centre-back Kenneth Semakula and left-back Aziz Kayondo, formed the core of the Uganda Hippos team that made- history by reaching the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritius in 2021.
The quintet, incidentally, faced each other in the final of the 2019 Copa Coca-Cola Schools Championships in Jinja, where St. Mary’s Kitende beat Jinja SSS.
Bobosi, Kayondo and Basangwa were on the Kitende side, while Mugulusi and Semakula played for Jinja SSS.
Isma Mugulusi, 19
Isma Mugulusi has grown from strength to strength since his days at Jinja SSS. A product of the school team that was, by then, acting as Busoga United Junior Team, Mugulusi has been on the rise.
Mugulusi, who makes 20 this coming October, was among the first products to pass through the now-defunct FIFA-sponsored FUFA Under-17 Junior League.
From there, he was picked for the U-17 AFCON 2019 qualifiers guiding the Uganda Cubs to their historic maiden qualification to the continental showpiece. He was eligible for the next edition, but the striker and a large part of his peers had been promoted to the U-20.
The striker played a key role in Uganda Hippos' momentous journey to reach the final, where the team won silver as he picked one man-of-the-match gong.
Mugulusi was then promoted to the Uganda Cranes and made his debut in a 3-2 loss against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Pretoria on June 10th, 2021.
He was 17 years and eight months on that day. Mugulusi guided the Hippos to the 2023 edition as the team captain but was bundled out by Nigeria in the quarters.
He plays for Greek side Makedonikos Neapolis.
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MUGULUSI PROFILE
Clubs: Busoga United, SC Villa & Makedonikos Neapolis
National teams: Uganda U17 (2017-2019), Uganda U20 (2019-23) & Uganda Cranes (2021- date)
Major Tournaments: UEFA Assist tournament in Turkey, 2019 CECAFA U20, 2019 AFCON U17, 2021 AFCON U20 & 2023 AFCON U20.
Achievements: Won bronze with U-17 at the 2018 CECAFA U17, won silver in 2021 AFCON U20, captain Uganda Hippos.
Aziz Kayondo, 20
Aziz Kayondo has a similar path to Mugulusi’s. The two started almost at around the same time but Kayondo has more accolades to his name.
At 20 years old, Kayondo he won the 2017/18 FUFA Juniors League, two Uganda Premier League titles and a Uganda Cup with Vipers and several others with their feeder school St. Mary’s Kitende at the national schools’ championship.
Kayondo was a key figure in the Uganda Hippos team that lost to Ghana in 2021 in Mauritius, winning one man-of-the-match award as well as being named the best left-back in the team.
The left-back’s versatility when defending in a back-four or a three-man defence gives him the edge ahead of his peers, while his ability to initiate attacks with his crosses gives him an advantage.
He debuted for the Uganda Cranes on January 18th, 2021, in the Africa Nations Championship and made it to the senior A team against the same Amavubi Stars on October 7th of the same year.
He came on for Isaac Muleme in the 65th minute in a 1-0 victory in Group E of the 2022 World Cup qualifier.
Kayondo made the final three-man list for the FUFA Player of The Season 2021 but lost narrowly to former Vipers teammate Bobosi Byaruhanga.
He moved to the United States of America, where he joined Real Monarchs in April 2022. He was later sent on loan to MFK Vyskov in Czech before joining Spanish side CD Leganes.
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Besides beating Kayondo to the MVP award in 2021, the central midfielder has shared much, if not all, of Kitende’s success with his former teammate.
He left Vipers in August last year to join Kayondo at MFK Vyskov before moving to the reserve side of the Major League Soccer franchise Austin FC in January this year.
Like Mugulusi, Bobosi made his senior debut for Uganda Cranes in June 2021 against South Africa.
He has been the most active of his peers in the national team featuring in all of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations since then. He was also named the best midfielder after guiding Vipers to the 2020/21 Stanbic Uganda Cup.
His partnership with Khalid Aucho has been solid. A potential future captain of the team.
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Travis Mutyaba, 17
Travis Mutyaba was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2021 USSSA National Schools Championship after guiding Gombe High School to the final and booking a slot to the East Africa games on their debut.
Before that, the teenager played a key role as he carried SC Villa on his shoulders to safety in the 2021/22 Uganda Premier League.
Footballtalentscout.net, a website that has specialised in giving scouting reports of players, briefly describes Mutyaba as a “player of a small frame who’s combative, not afraid of contact duels, and shields the ball well.”
On top of that, Mutyaba has pace, creativity, flair, dribbles with ease, a good work rate and, above all, disciplined.
At only 17, the left-footed midfielder has represented Uganda at the 2019 CECAFA U15 Championship (won), 2020 CECAFA U17 Championship (won and named MVP), 2023 U-20 AFCON and the 2023 Africa Nations Championships.
He debuted for Uganda in a friendly match against Tanzania on December 10th, 2021 and scored his first goal against the same Taifa Stars on August 28th last year in a 1-0 win in the CHAN 2023 qualifier in Dar Es Salaam.
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Like the rest above him, Semakula is a graduate of the FUFA Juniors League who has climbed the ladder through the U-17 and U-20 national teams that reached the continent. He has slowly squeezed into the senior team.
Semakula is a good tackler, a leader with commanding skills and good with aerial balls. The defender, who can also operate as a midfielder, fits in well with different partners in the various national teams.
He is still unfortunate that the football market does not appreciate defensive talents but should be swimming in good money abroad.
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