Why Ugandans have continuously failed at professional football abroad

The biggest question currently in Uganda is why its players have continually failed to prosper professionally with a number of returnees increasing every the other day.

The recent prodigal son is Allan Okello who was loaned back to KCCA FC from his side Paradou AC. The move was seen as a demotion following two years of stay at the club, by this time, it is when he would have established himself at the club as a starter.

Our research shows that most of Ugandan players go for professional football before getting ready for the challenge. The case of Allan Okello can justify this. At only 22 year, Allan went to Algeria aged only 20, by this age, he’s still young for such a challenge.

Ugandan players have not had enough of proper upbringing (nurturing) mentally, emotionally and physically. Getting adapted to new a challenge/environment needs a player talked to since childhood and to understand how to go about provocations in strange places.

Still to note, clubs have only looked at the commercial part of football and not looking at the sporting part and talent. In most cases, Clubs mind less or not at all on how successful (sporting-wise) a player will be at the new destination but only look at what they get monetary-wise.

Lack of sporting agencies intending to guide players on where they should head to in order to keep their talents flourishing. Because Clubs want to get money, they sell players to anywhere they feel like as long as they get money in return. Here,such consultants would be engaged to advise players on what to consider when joining players but this has been minimal.

Research has also indicated that most Ugandan players relax on reaching where they regard as being a bigger achievement in their career. Because many ballers are brought up in humble backgrounds, little money/achievements make them feel satisfied and therefore relax, given the much pressure and competition, clubs resort to loaning them or even not renew their contracts and they end up coming back back home.

Patrick Henry Kaddu who played in Morocco came back and he’s currently at Big League side Kitara FC, Mohammad Shaban came and he’s at KCCA, Derrick Nsibambi, Abdul Lumala, Moses Waiswa among others have all returned home after failing professionally though they are in their productive years.