Over the past 14 days, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has neither denied departing the Uganda Cranes’ coaching role nor accepted any new jobs as per speculation.
As it stands, the Serbian tactician’s tenure at the helm of Uganda’s national side looks to be over with Micho set to join Orlando Pirates this weekend. The move comes at a time when Micho was reportedly offered a better deal worth about $50000 per month by the South African Premiership side, which Fufa could not match. Reports indicate that Micho has been earning $10000 with Fufa owing him about Shs216m. Sometime back in December, the hash tag #PayMicho trended on social media, weeks before Uganda featured at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon. With help of government, Fufa seemed to have put silence to the matter of Micho’s salaries and arrears. But the rumour resurfaced two weeks ago and has escalated.
On Monday, Micho met Fufa boss Moses Magogo and it was agreed that the Fufa CEO Edgar Watson would meet his agent Ivica Stankovic to agree terms on whether to stay or not. However, the former SC Villa coach reportedly donated his household items before departing his residence at Naguru, a Kampala suburb, flying out to Ethiopia on Monday night.
Local station NBS Television did report that Micho had gone for good but the former SC Villa manager denied that. “As agreed on constructive talks with FUFA, I got few days of deserved rest until issues sorted or not. All other stories are mere speculations,” Micho is quoted via his Twitter handle @MichoCoach. “I just laugh on all as FUFA knows where I am and FUFA leadership is fully aware of that so that some nobody's can't talk nonsense in my name.” he added. However, reports in South Africa have intensified throughout the week, maintaining that the Serbian will travel down by Saturday to complete his move back to the club he tutored for seven months between July, 2006 - January, 2007.
Micho is likely to replace Swedish man Kjell Jonevret who has been under fire ever since Pirates lost 4-1 to SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup final last month. The Buccaneers had a bizarre season, finishing 11th of 16 teams with 33 points. Pirates face nemesis Kaizer Chiefs in a Carling Black Label Champion Cup (CBL) match at the FNB Stadium this weekend. According to TimesLIVE, it is still unknown as to whether Jonevret will be present and assist the winning CBL coach in Pirates technical area. Micho helped the Cranes qualify for two successive Chan finals in South Africa 2014 and Rwanda 2016. He won the 2015 Cecafa Challenge title in Ethiopia before breaking the jinx to return Uganda to the Afcon after a 39-year lull. The former Al-Hilal boss’ last duty was Uganda’s 5-1 win over South Sudan in the second round of the 2018 Chan Qualifiers in Lugogo.
Cranes are now set to face Rwanda in the final route of the Chan Qualifiers as well as a home match against Egypt in the 2018 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers next month. “We will have a coach for the Egypt (August 31),” Magogo said during the Uganda Premier League Awards on Wednesday night.
Been that non-committal, Magogo’s statement and Micho’s decision to follow the Pirates’ Twitter account @Orlando_Pirates only means his return to South Africa is on the grapevine. That’s notwithstanding rumours that Egyptian club Zamalek and Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli have also approached Micho.
MICHO FACT FILE
Date of birth: 1 September 1969
Age: 47
Place of birth: Prokuplje, Serbia
Current team: Uganda coach
TEAMS MANAGED
1994-2000: FK Palić
2000-2001: FK Spartak Subotica
2001: Yugoslavia U20
2001: FK Hajduk Kula
2001-2004: SC Villa
2004-2006: Saint-George
2006: Orlando Pirates
2007: Young Africans FC
2007-2010: Saint-George
2010-2011: Al-Hilal Omdurman
2011-2013: Rwanda
2013- Uganda
NOTABLE HONOURS
SC VILLA (2001-2004)
Two league titles, Kakungulu Cup, Cecafa Cup
AL HILAL (2010-2011)
2011 Caf Champions League semis
2010 Caf Confederation Cup semis
UGANDA CRANES
2015 Cecafa, Qualifying for 2017 Afcon, Leading Uganda at Afcon
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune