Barely two weeks after his dismissal by the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) from his role as the head coach of the Uganda Cranes, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has broken his silence, claiming that he harbours no ill feelings toward the federation.
Micho, who returned for a second stint as the Cranes’ coach in 2021, signed a three-year contract. However, his tenure was cut short as the Cranes failed to qualify for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, which is set to take place in Ivory Coast.
When he signed the contract, Micho’s primary task was to guide the team back to the prestigious continental competition, as the Cranes had last participated in the tournament in 2019.
“We had a well-thought-out plan on how to bring the team back to AFCON, but unfortunately, we couldn’t make it happen,” Micho explained.
Despite his dismissal, Micho expressed his commitment to remaining a part of the Ugandan football community.
“While I may no longer hold the position of head coach, I will continue to support the team as a fan,” Micho said.
He went on to express his enduring connection to Uganda: “Uganda will always be my home. I’ve spent a significant amount of time here, and it has become a part of who I am.”
Micho will forever be remembered in Uganda’s football history for his role in guiding the national team to a historic qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, ending a 39-year drought.
In the wake of his departure, FUFA has received a total of 245 applications from potential candidates seeking to fill the coaching position, with just two of them being Ugandan.