Two of Cranes' senior players have heaped praise on Ibrahim Sekagya after the former Ugandan international announced his retirement from active football.
Sekagya confirmed this weekend he had ended his 20-year illustrious career, also bringing to an end his two-year stint with New York Red Bulls as a player.
The good news for him, Red Bulls and Ugandans, however, is that the former Cranes and Red Bull Salzburg captain will stay on at New York after the club offered him a coaching role in addition to sponsoring all his coaching courses.
The defender, in his mid-30s, is remembered for his calm demeanor in possession, game reading, distribution and exemplary leadership on and off the pitch.
Little wonder that when his ex-international teammates talk about captain ‘marvel,’ the tributes are just endearing.
Striker Brian Umony was one of those privileged to be on the same team with Sekagya. (He was an) exemplary leader not only on the pitch but off it too,” Umony told a local independent newspaper, the Daily Monitor.
“(He was an) amazingly calm personality for a defence marshal like him. Everyone looked up to him. I wish him and his family the best in life.”
Umony added: “He has made a huge and tremendous contribution to the national team and the nation at large. I am very proud to have played alongside him, have had a lot of life learning experiences from him both in football and real life.”
Andy Mwesigwa, the current Cranes captain, partnered Sekagya in central defence before the latter retired in 2012.
“Wishing him all the best in his next move,” said Mwesigwa, adding, “He has been an inspiration to many young soccer players.
“Good enough he is staying in the game though on a different role and am sure he will serve well there as he has done while actively playing.
“Good luck to him and May God/Allah lead him and bless him. It was great playing with him. We used to pattern well and could understand each other.”
Sekagya has previously played for State House and KCC in Uganda; Ferro Carril Oeste, Atletico de Rafaela, Arsenal de Sarandi in Argentina and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
He quit international football, then as Cranes skipper, in 2012 shortly after Uganda drew goalless with Kenya at Namboole to end their dream of playing at the Nations Cup for the first time since 1978.
Sekagya is often spoken of in the same breath as Ugandan legends like Jimmy Kirunda and Philip Omondi but that he failed to lead the Cranes to the Nations Cup remains a stain on his otherwise illustrious career.
He won three Austrian Football Bundesliga titles in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12 with Salzburg, plus the Austrian Cup in 2012.
Sekagya also won the Primera B Metropolitana title in 2002-03 (Argentina). During his time at New York, he won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2013.
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