Ex Uganda Cranes star Tony Mawejje reveals why Ugandan players don’t make it as pros

Ex Uganda Cranes midfielder Tonny Mawejje shared insights into why Ugandan players struggle to thrive in top foreign leagues.

While addressing attendees at the Technical Stakeholders engagement event held at Jevine Hotel on Tuesday, Mawejje, who is an assistant coach at Wakiso Giants FC in the Uganda Premier League, reflected on his successful career playing internationally in Iceland with IBV Vestmannaeyjar, Haugesund in Norway, Throttur, KF Tirana in Albania, and briefly in South Africa and Kuwait with Golden Arrows and Al Arabi SC.

Coach Mawejje believes that one of the main reasons Ugandan players cannot succeed is their longing for the comforts of home.

“The mental aspect of the game is where the player goes to a foreign land, goes under challenges and resists them endeavors to go whatever it takes. But our players here when they go out there, they miss friends, family and the life in Kampala and when his paid the money, he thinks I have to go back and enjoy. Eventually he goes off the track,” Mawejje revealed.

Throughout his playing career, Mawejje was a vital part of the Uganda Cranes for 15 years, earning 83 caps and scoring 8 goals.

He began his journey with the now-defunct Masaka LC in the early 2000s and subsequently played for KCCA, URA, and Police (on two occasions) in Uganda.