Tooro prince seeks Uganda Cranes call-up after turning down royal throne

[Eronda]

George Desmond Kamurasi recently turned down one of the most extraordinary opportunities in his life of becoming King of Tooro, but the Ugandan goalkeeper still hopes to represent his country in a different role, between the posts for the Uganda Cranes.

The 36-year-old SE Dons captain was selected by the Tooro Royal Succession Committee as the preferred successor to his late cousin, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died in August. Kamurasi declined the throne, citing responsibilities in England, allowing the succession process to move on to Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, who was later enthroned as King Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.

Football, however, remains at the centre of Kamurasi’s ambitions. The London-based goalkeeper has never hidden his desire to play for Uganda, and believes the door to an international career remains open.

“I’ve never hidden my ambitions of actually playing for my country, so that’s still a possibility with their goalkeeper and captain being 41,” Kamurasi told talkSPORT.

“I’m hoping one day that international call-up can actually come soon.”

Kamurasi’s comments come as he leads SE Dons through an unlikely FA Cup run. The club, which grew from a Sunday League side and now competes in the ninth tier of English football, has reached the fourth qualifying round after beating Weymouth 5-1.

One more victory against Sholing would take the Dons into the first round proper of the FA Cup, giving Kamurasi another opportunity to put himself in the spotlight.

His international ambition is particularly striking given the circumstances surrounding his recent decision in Tooro. After King Oyo’s death, Kamurasi emerged as the first choice of the 21-member Royal Succession Committee. A member of the committee, Rev. Fr Charles Oyo, confirmed that Kamurasi declined because he had other responsibilities.

Kamurasi has since explained that he chose to remain in England, where he runs SE Dons and continues to play, while honouring his late cousin through the football club.

“I have respectfully spoken about this to members of my family and we’re respecting this FA Cup run in line with the loss of my cousin, he passed away,” he said.

“So, I’m back in the UK, I’m running our business, which is SE Dons, and honouring his name in any way I know best, which is winning and showing what desire and passion means for the people you care about.”

For now, Kamurasi’s Uganda dream remains just that, a dream. But with Denis Onyango still occupying the Cranes goal at 41, the SE Dons captain believes his opportunity could eventually come.

It remains to be seen if FUFA and Paul Put can give him the call up given the national team’s recent naturalisation process of heritage talent.
Source: Nbs Sport

 

[Eronda]

He turned down one Ugandan crown. Now he is asking for another opportunity to serve his country. He wants to play for Uganda.

That should perhaps make this one of the easiest diaspora conversations for Fufa to have.

If not for what he offers on the pitch, then certainly for the commercial appeal, eyeballs and royal association he brings.

The federation have embarked on an ambitious search for Ugandans living abroad, with more than 200 names reportedly identified as it tries to widen the pool available to the national teams.

Royal touch

Kamurasi is different. There is no ancestry spreadsheet to decipher, no grandparent to trace and no naturalisation argument to make.

He is Ugandan by birth and belongs to one of the country's most prominent royal families.

His father, Prince George Desmond Jimmy Mugenyi, was a younger brother of King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, making Kamurasi a first cousin of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

And then came the remarkable part. After Oyo's death in late August, a 21-member Royal Succession Committee considered Kamurasi its preferred candidate to become the next Omukama of Tooro.