Kusaasira Noah
FUFA Appointed Belgian Manager as New Cranes Head Coach.
After the dismissal of the Serbian national, Milutin “Micho” Sredejovic, the Federation of Uganda Football Association made a significant change in their local coaching staff by appointing Morley Byekwaso as the interim head coach of the Ugandan national team.
However, Byekwaso’s brief tenure didn’t yield positive results, as he lost both friendly matches he oversaw, including a narrow 3-0 defeat to Zambia’s Chipolopolo in the United Arab Emirates.
But, there was a breath of fresh air this morning 2rd-November 2023 for the country as FUFA announced the appointment of a 67-year-old Belgian football manager, Paul Put, as the new head coach for the Uganda Cranes. Paul Put comes with a strong reputation in African football, having achieved notable success in countries like Congo, Burkina Faso, and Gambia, among others.
His arrival will lead to a blending of the coaching staff, with a mix of Belgians and locals. He is expected to work alongside his fellow countrymen from Belgium, while other assistants will be Ugandans who will support him in his coaching duties.
Here’s a look at the key figures in the Cranes’ technical staff during Paul Put’s tenure:
Sven De Wilde: Performance Manager
Mathieu Denis: Physical Fitness Coach
Gery Osste: Goalkeeping Coach
Martin Michiel: Physiotherapist
Jelle Sevenhant: Video Analyst
Paul Put’s track record in coaching includes successful stints with various national teams and clubs, making him a promising choice for the Uganda Cranes. With time and support, he is expected to bring positive changes and improvement to the national team.
Here is a list of some of the teams Paul Put has previously managed:
2008–2011: Gambia
2012–2015: Burkina Faso
2015–2016: Jordan
2016–2017: USM Alger
2017–2018: Kenya
2018: Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard
2018–2019: Guinea
2020–2021: Saif SC
2021: Congo.
His preferable formation when playing is the 4-2-3-1. Upon being made the Cranes manager, put pleaded for time so as to unveil what he can do.
“Please give me time, give me the confidence. You will see a different national team,” Paul Put said.
Let’s wish the success in their new tenure. To me, it’s a good call.
