KAMPALA. Cub’s skipper Owen Mukisa wants the world to know his name, and he believes goals can provide the introduction at the forthcoming Fifa U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The Uganda attacker has set himself a demanding target of scoring whenever he plays as the Cubs prepare for Qatar.
Speaking after Uganda’s 6-3 victory in their first preparation friendly against Premier League side NEC FC, Mukisa linked his ambitions to the opportunities awaiting players on the global stage.
“Since Afcon ended, my goal has been to score in every game I play. This tournament will be my chance to show the world who I am,” he said.
“It is a great opportunity because agents from big clubs will be there, so I have to work hard and score more goals.”
The tournament runs from November 19 to December 13, with Uganda drawn alongside South Korea, Ecuador and New Caledonia in Group B. It will be the country’s second successive appearance.
Mukisa already has performances to support his ambition. At this year’s U-17 Afcon in Morocco, he scored, provided an assist and earned the man-of-the-match award in Uganda’s opening 3-0 victory over DR Congo.
He also scored in the decisive World Cup qualification play-off against Ghana, which Uganda eventually won 8-7 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
His contribution has attracted attention beyond Uganda, with Fifa identifying him as the Cubs’ player to watch in its World Cup group preview.
A place to earn
That recognition offers encouragement, although Mukisa insists it provides no protection from the competition within coach Laryea Kingston’s squad.
“There is competition in the team, and the coach is impressed with how everyone is competing. Nobody’s place is secure because everyone wants to book a ticket to the tournament,” he said.
“You have to compete to make it into the final squad.” Mukisa believes the opening friendly, offered evidence of the squad’s potential, particularly given the limited time the players had spent together.
“The performance is a little surprising because we have only trained together for a few days. To play the way we did today shows that we are ready for the tournament,” he said.
For Uganda, Qatar also presents an opportunity to build on a memorable debut under Brian Ssenyondo last year.
The Cubs defeated France and Senegal 1-0 before exiting in the round of 16, losing 5-3 on penalties to Burkina Faso following a 1-1 draw.
While that team was making history in Qatar, Mukisa was helping its successors establish themselves in Ethiopia’s Cecafa qualifiers.
He scored twice against Burundi and added another brace against Sudan, taking his tally to four goals from the opening two matches.
Those performances, followed by his Afcon contribution, have brought Mukisa closer to the stage he hopes will shape his future.
His immediate challenge is to maintain that influence through the remaining preparations and earn the chance to turn ambition into World Cup goals.