The notion of club administrators imposing assistants to their team head coaches has continued to thrive around the Ugandan football circles.
It’s a common trend, but experts feel it’s a cancer that will continue killing coaching careers and football as a whole.
“It has been a problem, it continues to be and won’t go away soon, yet it keeps taking down football in Uganda,” says Uganda Cranes goalkeeping coach, Fred Kajoba to Football256.
On Tuesday, 13-time Uganda Premier League champions, KCCA FC announced Charles ‘Kadidi’ Ssenyange as deputy and first team coach to head coach Morley Byekwaso.
This website understands it wasn’t Byekwaso’s wish to work with Kadidi as he preferred either Hussein Mbalangu or George ‘Best’ Nsimbe.
And, Kajoba, who doesn’t necessarily affirm the KCCA claims, asserts that it should be the head coach to choose their Second in Command.
“Everywhere you look, worldwide, you will not find a head coach who they will choose an assistant for.”
Certified coaches’ Instructor, Mujib Kasule reiterates the same and makes it a point that an assistant has to work for and in the interests of the head coach.
“A good assistant understands and believes in the philosophy of his head coach,” the Proline FC director notes in an interaction with the reporter.
“He (deputy) works tirelessly to ensure that his boss’ philosophy is understood by every player and can be implemented to get the best results.”
“An assistant doesn’t bring his philosophy and puts it in his boss’ plans, you must follow, understand, and also be able to teach the philosophy of the head coach,” adds Kasule.
It’s therefore a puzzle to think that a deputy decided upon and appointed by clubs’ top honchos will necessarily affirm with their head coach. And like put already, it’s an unnecessary disease around.
“When you look at what’s happening here, you can easily see coaches are forced to work with assistants,” reiterates Kajoba.
The latter believes this vice will always have profound effects on the delivery of the head coaches.
“That’s why most of them don’t perform to their expectations. As head coach, your assistant is supposed to be one of your best friends and they shouldn’t be afraid to tell you what they feel,” Kajoba adds.
It’s not clear what the relationship is between Byekwaso and Kadidi, who has already assumed his role at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
It’s a likelihood that once a deputy is imposed, the latter will not freely express to the head coach, but rather, to the top hierarchy.
“An assistant doesn’t have to be a ‘Yes’ man to the head coach but rather the latter’s strong right-hand man.”
Kajoba however, asserts that as the head coach, one has to insist on having their staff and make the same known to the hierarchy.
“When I joined Vipers SC, I told the administration that I needed my staff and they listened.”
Close sources to the club reveal that Byekwaso’s weak personality and failure to get out of his shell got him in this position.
“Why would a head coach fear to speak? Because if you don’t insist on what you need, you are bound to fail.”
“You have to have faith in yourself, and not fear the people you are working with,” Kajoba notes.
Kasule as well makes it clear that it has to be a cordial and complementary relationship between the head coach and his assistant.
“Both the head coach and assistants must work in such a way that they complement each other.”
“The head coach must empower the assistant and also the assistant, must believe and enforce only the agenda of the head coach.”
“If the two can meet, then the head coach and the assistant will make the results,” says Kasule.
It’s hugely clear that an environment where a head coach is forced to work with people they don’t desire is one associated with hypocrisy, betrayal, pretence among the lot, plus failure in the long run.
