By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala, Mengo: The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has today on Tuesday, August 03, 2021 at FUFA House-Mengo unveiled Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic as the new Uganda Cranes head coach on a three year contract effective 1st August 2021.
READ ALSO: Breaking! FUFA In Zigzag With Micho As He Bounces Back As Cranes Coach On Three Year Contract!
This simply means Micho is the official replacement of ousted coach-Johnathan McKinstry whose contract was terminated that saw Abdallah Mubiru taking over as an interim coach.
While unveiling Micho, FUFA president Moses Magogo first commended himself and his team for registering success in uplifting Ugandan football since 2005 which according to him has been a ‘football revolution’.
“This has been a long revolution since 2005 when the national team was an interest to anyone. A lot of work was done between then and 2013 and the image changed greatly. After 2013 to date, we have seen brilliant result both on and off the pitch,” said Magogo before adding thus;
READ ALSO: Zambia Sacks Ex Uganda Cranes Coach Micho Milutin Sredojevic
”We now enter a third phase of the progress of Ugandan football and our objective is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Today we bring in the coach and i ask Ugandans to be very patient with the coach as he ensure with go through the transition that we are in currently.”
On the other hand, ‘Micho’ kicked off his address with apologies for whatever went wrong in his first contract with FUFA before he was thrown out and later joined South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.
”It is a coincidence that when i took over at Orlando Pirates, a lot happened but i apologize for any bad that i may have caused.
Micho also revealed that ever since he quit Uganda, it has been his prayer to get a chance of coming back due to the love and support he saw in Ugandans mostly football fans.
READ ALSO: Here Is What You Didn’t Know About ‘Staggering’ New Uganda Cranes Coach Micho
”I was born in Serbia, but football wise, i was born in Uganda at Villa Park in Nsambya. I left in 2017 and went to two of the biggest clubs in Africa; at Orlando Pirates and Zamalek where i have learnt so much and then in Zambia where i am sure i have set a platform for future success. Coming back again, i think i am a better version-football wise after all the experience i have gathered. I want to give my absolute best,” said Micho.
As per authority given to him by FUFA to select the technical team, Micho named Livingstone Mbabazi as the Assistant, Fred Kajoba as Goalkeeping coach, Geoffrey Massa as Team Manager, Ivan Ssewanyana as the team’s Physiotherapist and left the remaining slots to be filled by FUFA.
READ ALSO: You’re Retired & Tired! FUFA’s Magogo, Kabushenga ‘Tear’ Each Other On Twitter Over Micho’s Return
Meanwhile, according to our sources we talked to at the press conference, it has been revealed that Micho in his new contract will be earning USD 24,000 (approx.UGX 88,800,000/-) per month for three years.
2017 Saga
It’s worth noting that Micho comes back at Uganda Cranes after in 2017 terminating his contract with FUFA citing non-payment of over Shs 230 million in salary and allowance arrears.
Micho whose contract was running from 2013 based his decision on clause 12d of his agreement with Fufa, which spelled out that when the national football governing body fails to pay salary for the coach for more than three months, then the coach is free to terminate the contract.
READ ALSO: Ex-Pirates Coach Micho Battles Massive Sex Scandal
However, that could not free the federation from clearing the outstanding debts owed to the coach and thus, the federation later announced that it had settled the debt.
“We are happy to announce that we have finally paid the debt of UGX194 million (US$54,000) to Sredojevic. We received US$20,000 from the government and the balance of US$34,000 we got it from our reserves and paid the debt”, FUFA then said.
We as TheSpy Uganda wish Micho and FUFA at large success in the next phase of qualifying national team to the 2026 World Cup competitions.
