Earlier this week, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) announced the appointment of Morley Byekwaso, the former KCCA FC Coach, as the interim head coach of the Uganda Cranes for a one-month period.
This appointment follows the recent dismissal of Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic as the head coach of the Uganda Cranes, following a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in which Uganda finished in third place with seven points.
FUFA confirmed this decision on their website, stating, “FUFA has named a Technical Team of four people for an interim period of one month running from 3rd – 31st October 2023.”
The interim technical team comprises Morley Byekwaso as Interim Head Coach, Fred Muhumuza as interim Assistant Coach, Stephen Billy Kiggundu as interim Goalkeeping Coach, and Felix Ayobo as Interim Fitness Coach.
“The quartet will take charge of Uganda Cranes during the International break this month where the team will play two games against Mali on 13th October in Bamako and Zambia in Dubai, UAE on 17th October 2023. Uganda Cranes squad for the two international games will also be named today by the interim technical team,” read another part of FIFA’s statement.
Morley Byekwaso is known for his role in guiding the Under 20 National team, the Uganda Hippos, to the final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, where they faced Ghana and finished as runners-up.
He (Byekwaso) was part of my dream team in 1997 with the likes of Ibra Sekagya and Abdallah Mubiru.
During the 2010/2011 season, he did work at KCCA under Matia Lule season before taking over on an interim basis.
He won 13 games, lost five and drew five in the 23 he was in charge, before returning to work under George ‘Best’ Nsimbe in the 2012/2013 season.
Byekwaso is a man who knows a thing or two about winning. While at Sports Club Victoria University working under Alex Isabirye, they won the 2013 Uganda Cup.
He was later elevated to head coach and guided the team to the inaugural Nile Basin CECAFA Cup in Sudan.
He later joined Simba. While with Simba for the 2015/2016 season, he won the Tarehe Sita Cup, in which they triumphed over KCCA.
In 2016, he joined KCCA as an Assistant Manager under Coach Mike Mutebi, a position he served in until March 2021 when he was appointed interim Manager.
Byekwaso was appointed as KCCA Interim Manager in April 2021 until the end of the 2020/21 season.
Thereafter, he was appointed as Manager/Head Coach of KCCA FC from July 2021 to June 2024.
During his reign as Manager of KCCA FC, Byekwaso has been in charge for 77 games, during this time, the Club has won 44 games and drawn 21. In the Uganda Premier League, Morley had a win ratio of 52% including the Nkurunziza Peace Cup hosted in Burundi, 2022.
Byekwaso also previously served as an Assistant Coach of KCCA FC on three occasions under Coaches; Matia Lule, George Nsimbe and Mike Hillary Mutebi.
During his time as Assistant Manager for KCCA FC under Mike Hillary Mutebi, the Club won Three (03) League titles, Two (02) Uganda Cups, Four (04) Super Cups and One (01) CECAFA Clubs Cup over six years making him the most successful Assistant Manager in the Club’s history.
It should be remembered that FUFA dissolved the entire technical bench of the Uganda Cranes, including the Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Goalkeeping Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Coach.
These positions were open to both Ugandan and non-Ugandan applicants, and coaches with prior experience in these roles were encouraged to apply.
Last week, FUFA’s Communications Director Hussein reported a significant number of applicants for these positions, with a majority of them coming from outside Uganda.
The applications included 245 for the Head Coach position, 34 for the Assistant Head Coach position, 24 for the Strength and Conditioning role, and seven for the Goalkeeping Coach position.