Cranes attack gets double boost

It was October 1998 that the last footballer carrying the name Mubiru made a scoring debut for the Uganda Cranes.

Hassan Mubiru, 21 at the time, scored two unforgettable goals on a rain-soaked day against Algeria in a 2-1 win for The Cranes, to open their account in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the old Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.

Young, skillful and daring, the SC Villa striker at the time, was thrown into the deep-end by former Cranes coach Asuman Lubowa, who was flanked by the late Paul Hasule, who was his assistant, and Mubiru’s club coach.

It was such a bold decision at the time, especially because Mubiru had to fill the boots of a legend, the late Majid Musisi, who had not been released for international duty by his Turkish Super Lig side, Bursaspor.

However, that occasion, disconcerting as it was since fielding a team without Musisi and Jackson Mayanja, who had remained at his Tunisian club, Esperance because of injury, left The Cranes short-handed.

Yet, it remained one of the finest moments in Mubiru’s illustrious scoring career. Fast forward, this Friday, September 5 at Namboole stadium, when The Cranes host Mozambique in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, before Somalia on Monday, September 8, another Mubiru is set to make his debut.

For the first time since 2021, Uche Ikpeazu Mubiru, who was born in England to both Nigerian and Ugandan parents honoured an invite this time to feature for The Cranes.

And in many ways, Cranes coach Paul Put could not be any happier. It has been long time coming, as Put has always wanted a centre-forward of his ilk; the big, tall and gangly one.

At 6ft 3inches in height, Mubiru, who plies his trade in the second tier of Scottish football for St Johnstone, brings the hold up play, which is expected to make the other forwards flanking him pose a big threat from the scoring chances created therein.

Mubiru is viewed by Put as an individual who completes the jigsaw. Because of his size, he will be more than a handful for a host of continental defences, leading them to errors. For example, to contain a big fellow like him, oftentimes, would require fouling him. Against that, Cranes can get a number of set-piece opportunities to pounce on.

In addition, during corner-kicks, Mubiru, unlike the one of 1998, has an aerial presence through his physicality, which would be a big threat. This should help him make up for the limited burst of pace, let alone the dribbling ability that Ow’emamba, as the late stadium announcer Andrew Patrick Luwandaga famously introduced him before games.

For all the technique that Hassan Mubiru used to have, maybe Put would not have clamoured for Uche Mubiru, aged 30. The former was a top talent, and a serial goal-scorer. Uche Mubiru’s scoring statistics do not read well. In his last 140 games, he has scored 18 goals at seven different clubs.

Yet, being a clinical finisher is not what is primarily needed from him, but being decoy for others to pounce. For all the times Uche did not show up, Put has had to improvise with wing forwards like Jude Ssemugabi and Dennis Omedi. On the other hand, Muhammad Shaban, who has been occupying that central striker position, has been injured for a while.

On top of that, he is such a small guy to go up against bigger centre-backs. But now, Put, who still believes that Uganda can brighten its World Cup qualification chances with wins in the double-header, was further boosted by the arrival of Joseph Mpande, 32, who plays for PVF-Cand in Vietnam.

The former Vipers SC attacking midfielder has since improved his scoring since becoming a centre-forward. In 21 games for his previous club, Nam Dinh, in the 2024/25 season, he scored six times.

Being a late bloomer, Mpande should have a lot of hunger to prove himself at the international stage. The fact that he has played overseas and stayed there since 2016, is proof of his resilience.

Add his size and muscle, Cranes squad appears to have got a big boost, not just for the World Cup qualifiers, but the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations due in Morocco this December.