Exclusive: Chasing Glory or Growth: Examining Uganda’s U20 Coaching Changes

For the third consecutive time, the national U20 team, the Hippos, will be led by a new coach at the upcoming U20 CECAFA Championship.

This year’s tournament, running from October 6th to 20th in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which is the gateway to the 2025 U20 FIFA World Cup.

Matia Lule will take charge of the team as they seek to return to the continental stage. Lule, no stranger to youth football, is succeeding former Ugandan international Jackson Mayanja, who took over from Morley Byekwaso.

When asked about the frequent coaching changes, FUFA Youth Development Officer Bashir Mutyaba explained to SportsBoom.com, "It is a case of unavailability; these coaches always have commitments elsewhere, and we can't stop them."

Balancing Growth and Glory 

Byekwaso led the U20 team to the 2021 AFCON finals in Mauritania, guiding them to the final where they lost 2-0 to Ghana. Uganda, Ghana, Tunisia, and Gambia had qualified for the U20 World Cup in Indonesia, but the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upon his return, Byekwaso was offered a three-year contract with KCCA FC, forcing him to choose between the Kasasiro Boys and the national team. He opted for the club. 

Pursuing Progress

As the team prepared for the 2023 edition of AFCON, Mayanja stepped in, successfully defending the regional CECAFA title but falling to Nigeria in the quarterfinals at the AFCON finals in Egypt.

"We don't know why we were relieved of our duties, but maybe it was because I didn’t have a long-term contract," Mayanja told SportsBoom.com.

"Our first target was to defend the CECAFA title and qualify for the AFCON, which we achieved. I really wanted to take the team to the World Cup, but it didn’t happen. Maybe if I did, I would have stayed longer."

Mayanja added: "The federation needs to trust coaches at this stage for a longer period; that is the only way we shall get better."

Shifting Focus

Lule has been away coaching in Tanzania for the past two years and coach instructor Mujib Kasule highlighted the disconnect this can create.

"For the last two years, coach Matia has been in Tanzania. Where did he learn about the players? It shows that he didn’t summon the players, they were invited for him."

"The young players and coaches need stability to develop. The hiring authority must select the right coaches, and because we lack a defined footballing philosophy, players keep learning different things from different coaches, which affects their development."

"Our end goal has always been to win the tournament, not to develop players. That is why the players only assemble when a competition comes around. Whether they have games or not, all national teams should enter camp for continuity, but for us, it’s only when there is a tournament."