Acting Cranes coach Mubiru wants the job, fears it will go to foreigners as team nears qualification

Abdallah Mubiru is a game away from guiding Uganda to her fifth CHAN finals after the Uganda Cranes’ convincing 3-0 win over Burundi in the first leg of their last qualification game on Saturday in Bujumbura.

Of all the five games he has been in charge, the Police FC boss has lost none in normal time. His only dropped points were the two draws in the COSAFA championships that included a goalless draw against Lesotho and a one all draw with South Africa, both of which he lost on penalties.

When asked about his performance as the interim coach before the return leg against Burundi next month, the soft spoken tactician says he is not complaining and hopes to keep improving.

“Its not very easy to rate yourself but I thank God for everything, in life no one has ever been satisfied with what one has achieved especially in football, sometimes I leave the pitch not contented with the performance. I always feel there is one element that we left out but am not complaining with what we have achieved so far, I hope to keep pushing harder for more,” said the gaffer.

With the permanent national team job vacant, Mubiru admits that it is his dream to take the job on a permanent basis, but he did not apply because he thinks foreign coaches are always favoured by the appointing authority.

“I didn’t apply because there is too much foreign syndrome, people are more obsessed with foreigners and I never want to be taken as an option, I want to be a priority too because that’s what I deserve, it is a dream for every coach to be in charge of the national team, and am happy for the responsibility that was given to me.”

The short time he has been in charge, Mubiru has proved that he is the kind that rewards good performers in the local leagues.

It is during his few months at the helm that players like Onduparaka’s Vianne Sekajugo and Police FC’s Yusuf Ssozi made their national team debuts.

He says, he calls players according to their abilities and how they fit in his philosophy.

“I have a philosophy and I choose the best players that fit in the philosophy”

Mubiru who is also police fc’s head coach believes his spell at the national team has had a positive impact on the cops, since his players now work harder with the hope of impressing him and trigger a national team summon.