By John Vianney Nsimbe
& Robert Madoi
WEEKLY OBSERVER

Cranes coach Csaba Laszlo is, by the face of it, to Ugandan football what the condom machine is to the Vatican - pretty much not welcome.

It's cast in stone that the relationship between local football governing body FUFA and the Hungarian-German borders on being acrimonious.

Geoffrey Massa

Just recently, FUFA spokesman Rogers Mulindwa revealed that although the federation is happy with what Csaba has done for Ugandan football - especially ensuring that "there is a consistent starting XI" - there is a lot more that they expect from him.

Rogers Mulindwa added that it's against this backdrop that FUFA shall review Csaba's contract. The Hungarian-German is barely two years in his four-year-long contract with FUFA. But Rogers Mulindwa says that there is a clause in the "contract we signed with Csaba that allows us to review his performance after two years and ultimately decide whether to carry on or not."

Csaba enters the second year of his contract in July - just two months into The Cranes' 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifiers that start May 31 with a home tie against Niger.

However, by the looks of things, Csaba himself hasn't sat on the couch in anticipation of the sack. Information available to The Weekly Observer indicates that the 44-year-old tactician has tendered in applications for jobs in South African topflight clubs Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic.

One of the foreign coaches who managed a club in South Africa tipped The Weekly Observer on this disturbing development. He referred The Weekly Observer to the super agent Ivica Stankovic who has negotiated a number of deals for Ugandan players like David Obua, Nestory Kizito and Timothy Batabaire.

When Stankovic was reached on telephone by The Weekly Observer sports desk, he was quick to deny any affiliations with Csaba.”I have no intentions to represent your national coach. As far as I’m aware, he has an agent.”

Csaba, himself, when probed about the alleged job applications seemed conscience-smitten.
"Who told you that?" he asked with a frown. "No, that isn't true. I'm Cranes coach and I like it here. Until I'm asked to leave, I intend to go on with what I have built here - a strong team." Sundowns' Media and Communications manager, Mahlatse Mphahlele indeed confirmed that "we haven't received any application from [Csaba]."

However, our source is cocksure that Csaba sent his resume to Stankovic and asked the Serb to try and broker a deal for him in Sundowns or Celtic. Both clubs have struggled in the coaching department this season.

Csaba's track-record doesn't also do him any justice. Earlier this year, he was one of many coaches that applied for the position of Cameroon national team coach. Otto Pfister took the job. Csaba pleaded his innocence on that occasion, reasoning that it was his agent Antonio Carlo that tendered in the application.

The current developments will only serve to make an already dicey relationship between Csaba and FUFA worse. FUFA is said to be quite angry with Csaba's inability to scout players, but the Hungarian-German insists he didn't come here to "scout for players."

Given Shs 50,000 daily as fuel allowance, FUFA is perplexed that Csaba always opts not to watch local football matches. He instead prefers to go swimming at Kabira Country Club and sampling cappuccinos at Sheraton Hotel.

The Cranes' 2-0 loss to Tanzania in an Africa Nations Championship match on May 3 seems to have provided FUFA with fodder to dismiss Csaba at the earliest opportunity. Sources at Mengo say that anything but a strong showing in Saturday's return leg will have the 44-year-old coach making a trip to the guillotine.

Typically, Csaba is unimpressed with his bosses. "I don't want to comment about the review of my job; that's FUFA's work but normally I'd expect to know something from my bosses than from the newspaper."
Little wonder, a breakdown in the FUFA-Csaba marriage seems to be knocking on the door.

jovi@ugandaobserver.com
rmadoi@ugandaobserver.com