Ethiopian test for U-17s

BY FRED KAWEESI
in Pretoria, SA

Uganda 0 South Africa 2
Group A
Malawi 5 Ethiopia 0
Kenya 1 Tanzania 1
Namibia 1 African Invite 2
Group B
Nigeria 4 Zimbabwe 0

Today, play-off
Uganda v Africa Invitational
Semi-final fixtures
Tanzania v Nigeria
Malawi v South Africa

SO how will Uganda’s appearance in the first COPA Coca Cola U-17 youth championship here be remembered?

Of course there have been a series of painful defeats for Mike Mutebi’s teenagers, a majority for whom this has been a learning process.

Uganda’s 2-0 defeat to South Africa yesterday ended Uganda’s interests in the competition and all that is left is a place play-off fixture against Ethiopia.

Yesterday’s game was one in which Mutebi’s youngsters had all the possession, and the hosts, the vital two goals that helped them to the semi-final stages alongside Nigeria, Tanzania and Malawi.

Results aside, the trip has shown their is so much potential in Ugandan youth football.

There have not been many industrious and intelligent players in this COPA Africa youth championship better than the likes of Willy Nakibinge (Kibuli), Dan Birikwalira (Kitende), Peter Akatukunda (Makobore High), Ibrahim Kirigambakwe (St. Leo’s College), Mathew Odong (Bukoyo), Geoffrey Ochan (Bishop Angelo College) and Isaac Owor (Kibuli).

Uganda paid the price for assembling an attack-minded team without natural defenders.

“It has been about exposure. The main problem in Ugandan football is scoring which is why I decided to bring strikers for this event, and try to make them dynamic,” coach Mike Mutebi reasoned.