By James Robert Kayindi
Former Bul Football Club head coach, Kefa Kisala who reckon as the Uganda Cranes assistant coach says football in the past was more about gifted individuals in disorganised environments unlike today.
While speaking about Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) upcoming tie against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, Kisala thinks that the Uganda Premier League (UPL) side will struggle when the two sides clash come Saturday, 14th March, 2015 at the Orlando Stadium in the CAF confederations Cup.
Kisala attributes his speculations to the failure of the game to develop in Uganda as compared to South Africa where their opponents are based. The former Express star back in the 90s thinks that the sport has actually greatly continued to decline over the years.
“Since the ‘90s, as other clubs have been moving forward, we (Uganda) have been regressing,” Kisala told Daily Monitor. “During our time and those before us, football had more to do with gifted individuals in disorganised environments. Today it is more about team ethic and organisation, which we lack in Uganda. While Pirates have been progressing, Express are not anywhere on the map. I think that is where Pirates have the edge over URA and that will be the difference.”
“They are time tested and are more of a professional institution. The fact that URA could only take 15 players and not 18 for the trip to Madagascar alone says a lot,” he added.
Kisala was part of the Express F.C side that lost to Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League in 1995.
“The Red Eagles lost 1-0 in Johannesburg before drawing at home 1-1, Gavin Lane’s 89th minute goal cancelling Andrew Arinaitwe’s 65th minute opener that could have sent the tie into a penalty shootout. Pirates went on to win the Champions League”, Supersport denotes.
URA overcome Madagascar’s ASSM Elgeco Plus on a 4-2 aggregate in the previous round. URA Head caoch Alex Isabirye is yet to make any comments about Kisala’s thoughts.
Email Robert: Robert.k.circles@gmail.com