Pilsner Super 8

KCCA vs. Nyamityobora

By Denis West 

Without mincing words, KCCA manager Mike Mutebi tore into ‘transfer flop’ Muhammad Shaban on Monday as he tried to explain the player’s current status at the club.

“Shaban has to compete like the rest. Many of you thought he would be our first choice centre forward but that has changed. It is Patrick Kaddu so he has to compete with the rest like Allan Kyambadde,” Mutebi roared.

Shaban behaved like a king on getting a trial opportunity South African side Orlando Pirates but like it was the case with SuperSport two years ago, the deal failed to go through.

Left with no option, the former Onduparaka hit man returned to Lugogo with a coiled tail and will now wait to see whether Mutebi incorporates him in Tuesday’s Super 8 semifinal clash between KCCA and Nyamityobora at StarTimes Stadium.

Mutebi has over the years handled hot headed players like Shaban and he plainly poured why Ugandan players fail on professional stints.

“Our players have a mentality that playing professional football is getting more money. It means being organized. A player has to arrive on time, do this and that that’s what those players do.”

He added; “Our players think they will learn those things when they leave this place. Shaban is one of them but there are so many others. We have to correct them to know that when they raise people’s hopes that they’re the next best things, they’re expected to maintain that form but to maintain it they must work hard.”

In a father son gesture, Mutebi is not giving up on Shaban yet; “We cannot let such situations happen again. No player should say that when he doesn’t play the club ceases to exist. When I was signing him I sat with his family for hours and we talked about how to help this player because they had also failed to handle him that side. He has come here and we need to help him. When we fail we shall not say we didn’t try.”