FUFA and Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic have just agreed to mutually terminate his contract following Uganda’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The tactician was shown the exit Thursday evening, less than 24 hours before the kick off of the new Startimes Uganda Premier League season.
“Today, Thursday 14th September 2023, FUFA and Mr. Milutin Sredojevic agreed to mutually end the existing employment contract between the two parties,” the federation statement said.
“FUFA appreciates all efforts and commitment by Mr. Milutin during his period as Head coach of Uganda Cranes.”
Whereas the decision looked inevitable, it is FUFA’s timing to release the statement that should come into question.
Micho could have been fired a few minutes after concluding their Group F business and confirming that Uganda would not be at Africa’s biggest football extravaganza.
Now, all the attention will turn to the Serbian Wolf and his time at the helm of the Cranes instead of the three big matches lined up for the opening day of the season.
Fans who have been gearing up for the UPL season will now talk about Micho’s firing and not the highly anticipated clash between SC Villa and Kitara FC or NEC FC’s visit to Kakyeka to face Mbarara City FC.
But equally, there are not many fans that will be disappointed by the announcement.
As the custodians of the game, FUFA has to find a way of going about business without looking like they are stifling the league.
That Micho had only Milton Karisa as the only locally-based player starting in Uganda’s last fixture should send a message that the league needs a lot of work in order to get to the next step.
And those efforts are not helped when all the hype and excitement get lost in a big story like this one.
How will the dailies treat the news? It will be understandable if the back pages are filled with Micho rather than the Uganda Premier League, and that is FUFA doing a disservice to the league and the game in general.
Whereas it is an announcement that had to be made, it could have waited, at least until a few days into the new season.
