By Robert Kayindi James
Uganda’s U-23 national football team goalkeeper, Salim Jamal Magoola who features for Sudanese side El Merrikh has revealed that consistency and patience will get him regularly playing for the national team, the Cranes as he compared himself to Manchester United’s David De Gea.
The 22-year old shot-stopper will however have to first beat the ever present and consistent Dennis Masinde Onyango, 31, who plays for South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Robert Odongkara, 29, who features for Ethiopia’s St George.
“Out of stiff competition and patience, I managed to get a starting berth at Merrikh and I believe if I stay focused the same traits may lead me to my dream of playing regularly for the senior Cranes team,” Jamal told the Daily Monitor.
The former Express FC and KCCA FC custodian has rose through the ranks after featuring for the Hippos (U-20 national team) and the Kobs (U-23 national team) and now thinks that it’s time to fight for a number one slot in the senior team, the Uganda Cranes.
“The promising bit is the three of us are performing well with our clubs in the CAF Champions League which implies we are almost at the same level. Like Man United’s David De Gea has waited for his time to take over from Iker Casillas at the Spain national team, I can feel my moment also coming,” he added.
Jamal’s exceptional penalty stopping antics and game reading make him stand out but still lacks the elegance and composure of Onyango who is about to mark a decade as Cranes’ first choice custodian.