As the old Namboole clock ticked over into the 89th minute, youthful sports journalist Clive Kyazze, a fine replacement for legendary Patrick Luwandagga (RIP), using the booming PA system kicked in and thanked the Cranes’ fans for cheering the national team but didn’t not proclaim that Farouk Miya was again Uganda’s man of the match.
Sometimes the match announcer’ s choice is met with bewilderment, even derision. On Saturday if Miya had been announced, it would not have been disdained this time. The reaction would have been warm applause from all four corners of the stadium – universal acknowledgement and appreciation.
Miya had been excellent, by some distance the stand-out player. Direct and deadly, this was MiaMia at his game-changing best. Who needs Geoffrey Massa?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWoAW_-IAIM&feature=youtu.be
On a productive evening, Miya after a nifty one-two play blasted in the shot that led to Uganda’s opener, literally stooped to divert home the only goal of the day that ensured Micho’s men climbed to the top of Group E after a narrow win over Congo Brazzaville.
Because this is Africa, we had no technology to evaluate Miya’s touch map but it would have showed his influence right across the field, switching places with his captain Massa, Moses Oloya and Kizito Luwagga in a dynamic front four that linked up seamlessly throughout.
The goal augmented his international goal tally to 14 – and drawing level with David Obua – and he duly became one of the leading scorers in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying Africa zone.
Like a colleague put it, Miya has become synonymous with scoring Uganda’s crucial goals, having also scored the only and winning goal that took Uganda through to the Nations Cup finals in Gabon after years of waiting.
Which all begs the question – why doesn’t Standard Liege let Miya play like this in the Belgian First Division A also known as the Jupiler League?
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Miya has struggled to get first team football despite a promising start. He has not featured in Standard Liege’s last seven league matches in Belgium.
It is no doubt he is young and still commands the faith of his employers, who have sent him to the development side to man up.
The fact his Uganda goal tally for these campaigns speaks volumes – perhaps his Standard Liege manager Aleksandar Janković should ask his Serbian cousin Micho Sredojevic for advice on how to get the best out of the young man.
Because he looks a man transformed on international duty – while with Liege he continues to languish in the reserve team. With Uganda it somehow plays to his strengths.
With the Uganda Crane on his chest, Miya is content and confident, raising his game to a level rarely seen for the Belgian club where he is considered to be young, slow and ineffective.
Sure, it was only in African competitions but Miya doesn’t select the opposition. He delivered earlier in April, against Mouscron-Peruwelz 4-1 and in June against KFC Heur-Tongeren 5-1 thumping.
With goals comes the confidence to deliver against the top teams as well, in the Belgium Pro League, The Belgium Cup and 2017 African Cup of Nations, Gabon when it rolls around.
Mr. Janković, we now have the blueprint. Let’s hope we see Miya deliver.
By Stephen Muneza Kagabo, Managing Editor & Co-funder
Twitter: @stephenkmuneza
