He got this blip because he was not even sure whether some players are still even active and had last seen them in action more than four years ago.
In fact, The Cranes last had a meaningful home match at Namboole stadium in 2019 and the lull of home action has had a debilitating effect on football fans, who have fully engaged themselves with European football.
Honestly, I would also struggle to name a formidable Cranes side from the current crop of players. Today, fans are so immersed in European football that The Cranes hardly have any space to occupy. Yet for years, a Cranes match would bring out people from all walks of life and even unite political foes.
Therefore, as we gear up for the reopening of Namboole stadium, it is about time for every stakeholder to start amplifying the return of The Cranes at home. I remember that when First Lady and Education minister Janet Museveni recently visited Namboole stadium, she was assured that it is at 84 per cent complete and should be ready by June 1, 2024.
Assuming all goes according to plan, Uganda is set to host back-to-back 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria on June 3 and June 10.
What better way to revamp interest in The Cranes than a massive drive to create hype? All this should start with Fufa as the custodian of the game.
Kitara, BUL
On a side note, I continue to marvel at the meteoric rise of Uganda Premier League sides Kitara FC and BUL FC, who have shown the traditional giants how things are done.
There is still a lot of matches to go before any of the two sides can claim the league title because Vipers is hot on their tail. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that they are punching above their weight.
Key to their rise are the organsational structures that allow every official to do their job. Granted, we have seen similar rises before with the likes of Onduparaka and Arua Hill but something tells me Kitara and BUL may be here to stay if they don't change the winning template.
As for the likes of Villa, Express and KCCA, they have their work cut out to avoid returning next season as spent forces. Only time can tell, for now.
The author is SC Villa president emeritus
