The Federation of Uganda’s Football Association have unveiled South African Sheryl Botes as the new coach of their senior women national team. This announcement was made by FUFA President Moses Magogo at FUFA Headquarters in Mengo.
The new Crested Cranes coach stood out amongst 40 applicants, five being Ugandans, for the post that has been vacant for 8 months, since July last year, after they were knocked out of the group stages at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
“We received over 40 applications, they were five Ugandans. We did an analysis and it has taken us time to get an experienced and qualified coach in women’s football on the continent and in the world,” confirmed Magogo.
Botes, who has signed a three year contract brings a particularly set of expertise as a former Head Coach of the SAFA Girls Soccer Academy at the High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Pretoria for 16 years. And her experience is set to have perfectly corresponded with the Ugandan Federation.
In her glittering CV, Botes boasts invaluable experience as the former Head Coach of the South African U20 Women’s National Team, Basetsana. She holds the in-demand CAF A license, SAFA Pro, and serves as a CAF Instructor.
The former Banyana Banyana assistant coach says: “There are a lot of building blocks in terms of tactical strategy that I will be bringing to the table. But most importantly I would like to build a close relationship with the coaches at club level because if we are going to play in a certain way and we must have it in the Leagues as well.”
Botes, becomes the first foreign coach to lead the Crested Cranes but joins a growing list of coaches who have previously held the position, including Magida Nantanda, Faridah Bulega, George Lutalo, Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, and, most recently, Charles Ayieokh.
As the Cranes awaited a new gaffer at the helm, two interim coaches in Khalifa and Ayieko were appointed, unfortunately they were both unable to see Uganda past the qualification stages ahead of the African Cup of Nations as well as the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Botes will be supported by David Didiero as the goalkeeper coach and Ashley Bear as a sports scientist in her technical team while Magogo has also stated that they will bolster the coaching staff with a few natives.
Magogo says their priority will be centred around laying a firm foundation for growth and development.
“FUFA has always been deliberate about Women’s Football and if you follow our progress since 2013, the growth is evident but we still need to grow more and more,” he said.
“We believe the current Crested Cranes team has the ability to compete at the highest level and bringing a coach with the experience of Botes is a commitment from us to take a big step forward,” he added.
Main Photo Caption: The Federation of Uganda’s Football Association have unveiled South African Sheryl Botes as the new coach of their senior women national team. Photos: FUFA website
Photo 2 Caption: This announcement was made by FUFA President Moses Magogo at FUFA Headquarters in Mengo. Photos: FUFA website
Photo 3 Caption: Botes made the cut from a pool of 40 applicants, including five Ugandans, for the post that has been vacant for 8 months, since July last year, after they were knocked out of the group stages at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Photos: FUFA website
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