Vipers SC playmaker Allan Okello has made a passionate appeal to his former coach Mike Mutebi, urging him to return to the dugout and continue shaping Uganda’s next generation of footballers.
Mutebi, widely regarded as one of the finest tacticians in Ugandan football, has been out of management since parting ways with Rwandan side AS Kigali in April 2022. Before that, he enjoyed a trophy-laden and era-defining spell with KCCA FC, where he unearthed and nurtured a host of young talents, including Okello himself.
Speaking during an interview on The Game of Life with journalist Andrew Mwanguhya, Okello couldn’t hide his admiration and longing for Mutebi’s influence on the local game.
“I request him (Mike Mutebi) to come back to football and give us just five or three years, and you will see another great talent coming out,” he stated.
Allan Okello explains why he has joined Vipers SC from rivals KCCA FC
The Vipers forward emphasized how many young players continue to miss out on the kind of mentorship Mutebi offered during his coaching days.
“A lot of kids (young talents) are outside there and need the guidance you (Mike Mutebi) gave us. Many players are who they are because of the knowledge he has given us,” he added.
Okello, who blossomed under Mutebi’s stewardship at KCCA, credited his former boss for shaping his football vision and development.
“Mike was really a great coach. He took me through the process that helped me to see things a different way. He always knew which games I was supposed to play or when to come on,” he noted.
Mutebi’s absence has left a noticeable void in Ugandan football, and Okello’s heartfelt plea underscores just how deeply his mentorship impacted a generation of players.
