Uganda coach: Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu can help us reach World Cup 2022

Ranked 77th in the world, Uganda have never qualified for a World Cup. It is the burning ambition of their Northern Irish coach, Johnathan McKinstry, to make history at Qatar 2022. He believes the hulking presence of Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu can help.

There was some surprise in March this year when McKinstry named Ikpeazu in Uganda’s squad for two African Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Sudan. Even the player was taken aback since he was out of favour at club level.

Coronavirus saw those ties postponed and Ikpeazu’s international debut delayed, but he remains prominent in McKinstry’s long-term plans. An Englishman with a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother is seen as the traditional No.9 African fans would warm to.

Playing in the Scottish Championship with Hearts this season won’t be a hindrance. McKinstry is in constant contact with Ikpeazu and has been throughout lockdown to keep him feeling involved.

Uganda’s World Cup 2022 qualifying group is considered favourable with Mali, Kenya and Rwanda their opponents. Traditional heavyweights like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and South Africa have been avoided.

Topping the section would leave McKinstry’s relatively young group just one two-legged play-off tie away from the finals in Qatar. No-one is getting ahead of themselves, however it is clear that 25-year-old Ikpeazu will have a role to play.

“Some guys walk out at the national stadium and instantly get a foot taller, so historical performances in a Ugandan shirt do come into it when you’re picking a squad,” explained McKinstry in an exclusive Evening News interview.

“Uche has good experience in the Scottish Premiership. He brings something different. Our playing style is one that favours a lead striker – a No.9 who can lead the line and be a focal point that we can build round, helping to bring our midfielders into the game.

“We have some players who can play that role, but I think Uche definitely adds to the competition. He is enthusiastic. From speaking to him, he is very eager to come out here and prove what he is capable of.

“I know last season wasn’t the best for him. There are various reasons for that. I actually know Robbie Neilson quite well and, when he got the Hearts job, I sent him a message saying congratulations.

“I informed him he had one of our boys and we had a conversation. From speaking to Robbie, I think Uche is going to be given a fair crack of the whip this season and could play a big part for Hearts.

“It’s in his hands. If he is playing well in Scotland, I think he will be able to transfer that into our environment here.”

Hearts and Uganda have history, of course. Think David Obua and Csaba Laszlo. Ikpeazu is a new and willing conscript who should possess the strength of body and mind to handle expectations in Kampala.

“The fans here are demanding. We’ve been to the last two African Cup of Nations and we have realistic ambitions to go to the World Cup in 2022. There are big expectations from the supporters,” explained McKinstry.

“When Uche comes in, he is going to have to take someone’s shirt in order to get out there. When you do that, you have to prove yourself. Our belief in bringing him on board is that he has all of the skill sets to complement what we are trying to do here.

“You look at the clubs Uche has been at and supporters tend to warm to him very quickly. People seem to really enjoy what he brings to the team, his work ethic and commitment to the cause. I think the Ugandan supporters will love that.

“Scottish football has developed significantly but ultimately it is still a physical league. You have to look after yourself. If you are the shy and retiring type, you won’t survive too long. I think that transfers well to Africa.

“When I was coach of Sierra Leone, we had a couple of 19 and 20-year-olds on the books at Chelsea. It was such a culture shock for them, the physical nature of playing for Sierra Leone because they were used to academy football.

“That's not Uche’s background. He has learned his trade in the football league in England, and now in Scotland. He’s come up against some touch opponent and I think that will stand him in good stead for international football.”

Sierra Leone sit alongside Rwanda, Zalgiris Kaunas and the Bangladeshi club Saif SC on the CV of McKinstry, a well-travelled 35-year-old coach from Lisburn.

He signed a three-year contract to take charge of Uganda last September. The country’s football association chief executive Edgar Watson said he “fits in our vision of being the number one footballing nation in Africa on and off the pitch”.

The Brit is already making an impact. In charge for ten games, he has won nine and drawn one whilst lifting the CECAFA Cup – a tournament for East African nations. His pursuit of Ikpeazu came after a tip-off from an agent friend, Justin Addo.

“He sent me a message at the beginning of the year, highlighting that Uche might have Ugandan parentage,” said McKinstry. “As far as we were concerned, he was English-born of Nigerian descent because all the resources available to us only had those two countries listed under his name.

“We were told there was a Ugandan link there and that turns out to be his mother. Once we found that out, we were eager to get in touch with him and have a chat.

“It’s important people feel that link. I’ve had players before who maybe don’t feel close to that side of the family, and so their interest in playing international football either doesn’t exist or it’s a more of a professional decision.

“I think it’s important when you’re getting guys to come here and represent the nation that it matters a bit more to them. International football is different to club football, whether it’s pride from where you are from or your parents are from.”

McKinstry and his British assistant, Alex McCarthy, are convinced Ikpeazu’s attributes can strengthen Uganda’s World Cup bid. They are familiar with the Scottish league as Motherwell’s Bevis Mugabi is part of their squad.

“Alex knows the lower leagues in England and had seen Uche playing for Cambridge United a couple of years ago. Uche had a number of good games for Hearts when he went there, one of them against Celtic, and he was being linked with quite a few clubs.

“When we discovered he was eligible, we knew who he was but he wasn’t getting as much game time. We knew him as a player but hadn’t looked at him specifically because there wasn't a reason to until we discovered he could play for Uganda.

"Now we see him as a player who could help us.”

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