Local football governing body, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) on Thursday unveiled Belgian national, Joseph Paul Put as the new coach of the men’s senior national team, Uganda Cranes on a two-year deal. The exercise took place at FUFA Complex in Mengo, Kampala.
Put, 67 will take charge of the side after the departure of Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević whose two-year reign came to an end over a month ago after the team failed to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Morley Byekwaso who was an interim after Micho’s departure couldn’t get the team ticking as he failed to get maximum points with the side in international friendlies.
Put comes into the team with wealth of experience on the continent for over a decade.
Between 2008 and 2011, he managed the Gambian national team and in 2012 he had a stint with the Burkina Faso team, where he guided the side to the semifinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which were held in South Africa. He left the Burkina Faso role in 2015.
In June 2015, he was unveiled as Jordan head coach where he lasted until 2016 and in the same year (in June), he was appointed Guinea national team coach where he lasted up to October the same year, after which he was announced as manager of Algerian club USM Alger.
Between November 2017 and February 2018, Put had a stint at East African side Kenya Harambe Stars and he now returns to the CECAFA region as Uganda Cranes Coach.
According to FUFA, Put will work with the following people as part of his backroom staff; Sven De Wilde – Performance Manager, Mathieu Denis – Physical Fitness Coach, Gery Osste – Goalkeeping Coach, Martin Michiel – Physiotherapist and Jelle Sevenhant – Video analyst.
The Ugandan personnel who will be part of the backroom staff will be communicated later and shall report to camp as and when International engagements are lined up.
Put comes to the side ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that start this month. The Cranes will be away to Guinea and Somalia on November 17 and 21 respectively.
