The stereotype about Uganda Premier League side KCCA FC head coach Morley Byekwaso being intolerant to young talent and maintaining the patience to see them develop while with the senior team might be up for a challenge heading into next season.
This current debate has been sparked by the scenes at Lugogo on Wednesday, September 8, that saw the unveiling of two teenage youngsters including defender Ibrahim Juma and midfielder Mwanje Elvis Eddy.
Just like it always is for any promotion, the two lads couldn’t hide their joy and ecstasy at the realization that they had broken the jinx and were bound to represent the Kasasiro boys senior team.
Juma, who has spent over three years with the junior side at Lugogo since joining in 2017 will compete for a spot at left-back against Herbert Achai and the experienced Brian Majwega.
Mwanje on the other hand will be looking to learn more from the massive experience from the players in midfield and those that play further upfront in order to earn a position of his own in the team.
While at his unveiling, the industrious Juma expressed a lot of optimism as he spoke about his readiness to compete for a starting place in this starstudied KCCA team.
“To be promoted to the senior team is every academy player’s dream and I will therefore work hard to earn a slot on the team , I am so excited,” Juma told the club media team.
“I know the kind of competition that I am going to face but I will take my chance when handed the opportunity,” he added.
The 17-year old Mwanje, who is currently in his senior six vacation following the successful completion of his exams at Masaka Secondary school also shared the same sentiments with counterpart.
“I have been here since 2019 so to finally make the first team is the best news. I want to thank the coaches in the Academy that have helped me get here and I promise to make them proud,” Mwanje confessed to club media.
Both players made their senior debut for the club against Masindi’s Doves FC but for Juma though, the game presented a memory that he will forever cherish.
The left-back registered an assist with a flawless cross that met Sadat Anaku who nodded home KCCA’s only goal to progress to the quarter finals of the Uganda Cup 2020 edition.
The two have represented Uganda in U17 AFCON, 2019, and have also won the CECAFA U17 title twice in 2019 and 2020 as the captain for the team while in Kigali, Rwanda.
The many other formerly promoted players in the current squad are Ali Mwirusi, Sadat Anaku, Musa Ramathan, Dominic Ayella, Peter Magambo, Herbert Achai, Kizza Bukenya, Julius Poloto, Joseph Kafumbe, and Hassan Jurua.
