YES, you did not read the title wrong. I wrote it with a sound mind and no coercion.

It’s been 38 years since Uganda played in the AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS, 1978 to be exact. Over three decades, we have made futile attempts to qualify for the competition. Frustratingly, It’s always been one of those ‘so close’ moments followed by major let downs! Finally, UGANDA CRANES didn’t do the obvious and disappoint. The boys played it hard, beat Comoros and qualified for the African Cup of Nations ( FYI this is like the Euro Cup  for those non football fans, that is if you even know what the Euro cup is)

Now that we are playing in the AFCON 2017, what should Uganda expect?

Some fans say, ‘ A qualification is enough, at least we QUALIFIED!’,but what use is qualifying if we don’t even think we can win! ( Look at what Leicester City did in the premier League.) I strongly believe that as Ugandans, we need to be more hopeful and positive towards the Uganda Cranes. Without supporting our own, we are simply letting ourselves down. (Am talking to you FUFA and the Ministry of sports!)

The team has strongly relied on goalkeeper and African player of the Year, DENIS ONYAGO. Who by the way is ranked number 10 ahead of Arsenal’s Peter Chech, as one the best goal keepers in the world. (..and Uganda can’t even promote this guy. Oba tuli kuki?) Midfielder Farouk Miya, who scored the winning goal for Uganda and the likes of Emmanuel Okwi, Geofrey Massa, Tony Mawejje have been equally influential and of course club coach and manager Milutin ‘Miicho’ Sredojevic who has triumphed where other managers came so close.

Our team is good. Some might not know it, but The Uganda Cranes team was awarded the best national team of the year by CAF last year. So yeah, the team is good, but even the best of the best can be let down by lack of support.

Most Ugandan football fans know almost every European league player from the famous Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney to retired Maradona. These Ugandans faithfully support Manchester united and Chelsea, but if you asked them about Uganda cranes, that’s a sad story. This misguided support and love for these international leagues, is a result of us neglecting our own in preference to better neighbors. Mbu ‘eno season tugenda kugula abazanyi and we shall win the premier league.!’ We? You and whom?

Uganda Cranes sits in GROUP D with African football giants Ghana, Mali and Egypt. This looks bad for Uganda, all these teams are no strange visitors to the African Cup of Nations competition, but we need to let our boys know that ‘YES WE CAN‘. As the saying goes, it’s all about mentality. If you believe you can win then there is no limit to what you can do. Sadly, I bumped into one of the Uganda Cranes players (Yes, I also talk to stars) and he didn’t have the belief that they would even exceed the group stages! It got me worried that our boys are not encouraged to exceed expectations.

From here on, the media, football institutions and the government of Uganda need to wake up and popularize football and sports at large in Uganda. West Africa is doing it, lets jump onto the train and not be left behind. The premier league and other European football leagues support country economies annually. (imagine the money Uganda can make.)

The African Cup of Nations 2017 kicks off this Saturday 14th January but Uganda dives into it’s first game against Ghana on 17th January. (Am positive we can win this game.)

Enjoy the games and lets support our team to VICTORY!!!