Uganda Cranes Sweden based midfielder Martin Mutumba Kayongo has hinted at an early retirement from the Cranes citing limited game time as the force behind his move.
The AIK Stolkholm star has earned six national caps since his debut against Angola in June last year but has only started three games albeit one being the friendly against Egypt.
Mutumba, a regular with his Swedish side revealed his disappointment at limited game time in national team colours after featuring for less than ten minutes in the loss against Senegal in the penultimate group J game of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers that allowed Senegal qualify for the play offs.
“I played for about only five minutes. So what should I say? I touched the ball about two times I think. I’m not happy, of course not”, Mutumba told Daily Monitor in a post match interview.
Mutumba feels he should be starting games for Cranes given he is a starter and one of the key players for AIK in the Swedish league and believes in his abilities.
“You see, the Swedish league is a high league and hopefully I can go to a bigger league after this season,” argued Mutumba before adding; “I know how good I am. So for me that I play five minutes here, I don’t show, so it’s no problem for me.”
Mutumba an 81st minute substitute for Hamis Kiiza in Marrakesh had no telling contribution on the game something he blames on limited time on the pitch and the fact that Cranes were a man less.
“They guys play their best, so what can I do when I jump in five minutes to go, the other men are 11, we are a man down, so we are just chasing shadows.”
The dread-locked number 10 further stated that he was so disappointed and said would only consider his future with the team after talking with his family.
“I’m going to go home and talk with my people about the future with Cranes, so I don’t know. I really doubt it”. Asked if he would honour another call-up, Mutumba said: “I don’t know really right now.”
When asked for a comment on Mutumba’s situation, Cranes Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic says he has Mutumba in his plans for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualification campaign. “He has a big chance for the 2015 Nations Cup qualification, just like all other players.”
Martin Mutumba Games with Cranes:
June 3rd, 2012 Vs Angola (1-1) – Started
June 9th, 2012 Vs Senegal (1-1) – Started
June 8th, 2013 Vs Liberia (1-0) – Off the bench
June 15th, 2013 Vs Angola (2-1) – Off the bench
August 14th, 2013 Vs Egypt (0-3) – Started
September 7th, 2013 Vs Senegal (0-1) – Off the bench
Do you think Mutumba should be given more playing time than he gets on the national team?
