Goalkeeper John Okurut was included in BUL FC’s senior match day squad for the Uganda Premier League clash against Vipers on Wednesday last week to deputise Emmanuel Kalyowa who had replaced the suspended Saidi Keni in goal.
Manager Alex Isabirye handed Okurut a three year contract in January this year and promoted him to the senior side after a good showing in training.
He joined BUL FC’s junior team in the 2019/20 season that was halted by COVID 19.
The young shot-stopper admitted that he couldn’t even believe that he was being called up to the first-team picture for this season.
“I feel like I want to burst! I want to shout loudest. I don’t know when I will be on the pitch but it’s an advantage for me to be on the senior team.”
“I didn’t expect it because I had even not passed through all our junior teams but from U-17 to the senior side is wow.”
“For real, I am excited at the moment and I believe my hard work has led me to this.”
Okurut is now training with one of the national team goalkeepers – Saidi Keni and the experienced Emmanuel Kalyowa.
“These guys are friendly and they’re helping me to improve during training by telling me what to do as a goal keeper and that is giving me courage.”
“I am no longer the junior team goalkeeper I was before. I feel so previlaged that I can now perform.”
He continued, “I look up to them for whatever they do on and off the pitch because they are professional goalkeepers.”
There are several junior team players that have recently signed their first contracts at BUL FC and then promoted to the senior side, including Owen Mukisa , Allan Kiggundu, Reagan Kalyowa, and now Okurut, one of the biggest propects at Kyabazinga stadium has joined that circle.
*Credit: BUL FC website.
