SSERUNKUMA’S HEADACHE: Who will make room for Ugandan hit man?

Dan Sserenkuma
 

Not since second coming of George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo has the news of a returning club hero been celebrated at Gor Mahia. When Blackberry left Gor Mahia in 2010 after two seasons he had traumatised defenders, caused a few coaches their jobs and weaved his way to the hearts of Gor Mahia fans by scoring 16 goals. Not a mean achievement!

This time it is Dan ‘Danni’ Sserunkuma. Yes, the little magician from Kampala. But Sserunkuma is not Blackberry. Coach Zdravko Logaruši? once wondered which of Danni’s feet was stronger. On which foot did he wake up? Goalkeeper Jerim Onyango, once asked which player against whom he’d never dream of playing, promptly said Sserunkuma.

Well, Tanzanian giants Simba SC have released him in those diplomatic terminologies of ‘mutual consent’ and he’s in town. What follows though is a two-fold dilemma with which Gor will have to grapple with.

First, where to play him since he was replaced by Michael Olunga and Meddie Kagere. But that is a luxurious problem. Let the coach, if he truly needs Danni back, do his work.

The second is which foreign player to be released for Sserunkuma considering Gor Mahia has maximised the seven-player foreign cap. Of the seven foreigners at the club three seem untouchable; Abouba Sibomana, Khalid Aucho and Karim Nizigiymana.

That leaves four players out of whom one or two could be released to create space for Danni.

Meddie Kagere

Am I sick to pick on Meddie? You see Meddie has only up to December at Gor Mahia and if any club came calling with a fat cheque I’d release the Rwandan (with Ugandan roots).

My understanding is Gor did not sign Meddie for Meddie. No, he was signed to replace Sserunkuma. Essentially, and maybe arrogantly, if Sserunkuma did not leave in January the Rwandan would not have come to Gor Mahia.

The other question is with Sserunkuma around, what role would Meddie play? Coach Frank Nuttall is not going to waste Sh3m on the bench, is he?

Israel Emuge

In all fairness Emuge sounds the easiest target. The burly Ugandan has had a torrid time at K’Ogalo since he won the 2013 KPL title. He didn’t have the best of pre-season either.

From a fanatic seat, I love Emuge. I think his height and body are perfectly made for defenders. But he’s rarely used and on the public court of opinion Emuge may as well start looking for his travel documents.

DirkirGlay

I’d make Glay a candidate in this debate because of his incessant injuries. He gets injured the same way he injures. With the meager resources around, nobody has the luxury of paying a ceaseless patient. Arsenal’s Abou Diaby’s story shouldn’t be an inspiration to any player.

Glay’s a hard tackler. Not really a problem but ever imagined the amount of red cards and penalties he’d concede if referees started doing their jobs to the letter? One day Gor Mahia will play in an empty stadium without fans to intimidate the referee. Think of that!

Godfrey Walusimbi

Lord, I can’t imagine I’m even thinking of releasing Wazza!

Look, Walusimbi has up to December in his contract and he has not had enough playtime this season. Well, coach Nuttall converted him into an attacking winger, a position he’s meticulously executed but Gor has the luxury of doing without him in that position and not miss him much.

The reality is that he cannot be redeployed to his traditional fullback because Abouba Sibomana is stable at the back. There’s no denying that Walusimbi is an exceptional player; tremendous talent.

— Tom Bwana is a football commentator and Gor fan

 

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