By Robert Kayindi James
Uganda may have drawn with Burkina Faso on Tuesday evening at Namboole, but KCCA FC’s left back Joseph Ochaya will be hoping that it’s a win for him in the long run.
The 23-year-old, with out a doubt, exhibited great potential on the night despite the Cranes failing to overcome the Stallions, leaving Uganda’s qualification hopes to the 2017 AFCON finals hanging in balance.
“It hurts that many of my crosses were not converted into goals but overall we remain in contention for a slot in the next Afcon campaign. The coach (Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic) reminded us to turn up ready to win the two remaining games – Comoros and Botswana – at all costs,” Ochaya revealed to a local newspaper, the Daily Monitor.
While the game was being televised, the industrious left back knew that the whole world was watching and it was his turn to showcase his full potential besides having displaced Gor Mahia’s Godfrey Walusimbi from the fullback position.
Since returning to the local giant’s side, KCCA FC, the youngster has had impressive performances at the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Club championship in Tanzania before winning the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup with the Cranes in Ethiopia late last year.
It’s this form that has seen him attract so many professional offers from across Africa but turned them down in hope for greener pastures in Europe.
“I have recently turned down several professional offers from Africa in anticipation of a European move just like Farouk Miya (in Belgium). I hope with that energetic display, scouts will soon be knocking on my door,” he said.
Besides out marking Chelsea’s attacker Betrand Traore, the former Asante Kotoko FC (Ghana) player also saved time to beat right back Dayo Issoufou before making several crosses into the area which Massa, Miya and Oloya failed to convert.
