By Denis West
KCCA coach Mike Mutebi ignited a contentious debate that young creative wizard Allan Okello is far better that Jackson ‘Mia Mia’ Mayanja talent wise.
Wow, Mutebi received heavy backlash for his ‘wild’ comparison but he still insists that ‘no player, at least in his lifetime, is as talented as Okello’.
But, when asked whether the left sided playmaker is the ideal player to fit in Uganda Cranes head coach Sebastien Desabre’s attacking plans, Mutebi was quick to state that his ‘special’ lad is not up to the task yet.
“It is not good to cross-generate a player of 18 years and those in their 30s just because he has shown exceptional talent. He will not be comfortable,” the KCCA manager argued.
“He needs to mature with his age mates. It will reach a time when they [national team coaches] will promote about nine of them from the junior ranks. Not just picking two or three of them,” the former Cranes coach reasoned.
Since he announced his grand arrival on the big stage in February last year with a hat-trick against Onduparaka at Lugogo, Okello has showed shades of potential but lacks the required consistence.
He has not imposed himself on games for KCCA in the league and Caf Champions League even in the habitual absence of the ever-injured Jackson Nunda, Saddam Juma and lately Muzamir Mutyaba, a grey spot on his budding resume that he needs to address soon than later.
It might have been cumbersome for him to concentrate last year as he did his A-Level final year but now Okello is at liberty to play his best football as he contemplates juggling university, professional and national team engagements.
In the 5-1 mauling of hapless South Sudan at Lugogo on Saturday, the gifted midfielder was surely unstoppable.
He posted two assists and a jaw-dropping strike that kissed the bar before getting in to crown a fantastic second half.
He dribbled and passed with relative ease, had opponents chasing shadows and played to the applauding gallery.
Mayanja, arguable the best player Uganda has ever had after the legendary Philip Omonndi, didn’t dispute Okello’s sheer bourgeoning talent when drawn into the comparisons but revealed the former Kibuli SSS student is still a rough diamond that needs to work extra hard to reach his standard.
“I call him my son and I talk to him regularly but he is not yet anywhere near me. If he remains focused, his talent will take him places,” Mayanja spoke of Okello, who recently won the Jackson Mayanja award (KCCA best young player).
There aspects that Okello should hastily improve about his game if he is to come to Desabre’s redemption at the nation team.
Play with power, drag games by their necks and score more regularly (like he has been doing for Kibuli in the Copa CocaCola tourney) and the Uganda Cranes will dream of having another Livingstone Mbabazi, Asan Bajope, Hakim Magumba or Willy Kyambadde.
Luckily for Okello, he is surrounded by a generation of players that can help him grow faster. Okello has been with Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye, Julius Poloto, Herbert Achai, Bashir Asiku, Muhammad Kasule, Muhammad Shaban and Ezra Bida for about four years and theirs is a generation that propel Uganda to greatness in the near future.
While Okello grows in structure and experience, Frenchman Desabre should continue trying out the likes of Yasser Mugerwa, Muzamir Mutyaba, Nunda and Farouk Miya for the ‘technical player slot’ he feels he is the missing link in his Cranes jigsaw.
