The recent upturn in the Uganda Cranes’ fortunes has been attributed mainly to the players’ change in attitude. But also duly noticed is the input of Coach Laszlo Csaba, at least by the Cameroonian football federation.

On the list published on The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) website (www. fecafootonline.com), the 42-year-old tactician’s name is number six under the category of coaches with German origin who beat the July 17 deadline to have names in for the lucrative job of spearheading the Indomitable Lions’ campaign during the MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ghana next year.

Coach Csaba, however, denied the reports. Among other notable instructors is 69-year-old German Otto Pfister, the current coach of Sudan’s El-Merrikh and the man who took Togo to the World Cup finals in Germany last year.

Also mentioned is former Cameroon coach Artur Jorge (Portugal), who quit after the country’s quarter-final exit at the last Africa Nations Cup finals in Egypt 18 months ago; and current caretaker Jules Nyongha (Cameroon) who ensured the team’s qualification for Ghana 2008.

Mr Csaba, however, poured cold water on the matter. “I have a four-year contract with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) and I’m not about to quit,” the coach said. “I still love Uganda Cranes and confirm that I didn’t apply for the Cameroon job. But ask my agent Carlo because he has the final word.”

Mr Csaba’s agent Antonio Carlo also dismissed the reports and threatened legal action against Fecafoot for what he called baseless speculation. “Csaba is 300 percent committed to Fufa, Uganda Cranes, and working closely with Lawrence Mulindwa – the federation boss,” Mr Carlo said yesterday in a telephone interview from Spain where he is on holiday.

The Fifa-licensed agent added that Mr Csaba is currently focusing all his energies on ensuring that Uganda makes it to the biggest continental soccer showpiece for the first time in 30 years.

“Like any good soccer player, these guys are just courting Csaba,” he said. “[Fecafoot) have not yet talked to Csaba and me. I’m going to follow up that matter with the Cameroonian FA immediately.”

Mr Csaba signed a four-year contract with Fufa in June 2006 worth about $7,500 (Shs12.5 million) per month. The benefits on his contract include a free house worth $2,500 (Shs4.5 million), two return air tickets to Europe every year, a car, and education for his children.

South African senior sports TV commentator Mark Gleeson, who broke the story was baffled when Daily Monitor told him that Mr Csaba had denied applying for the post.
“How come his name appears on that short list of 78?” he wondered.
Mr Csaba, a Hungarian-German, has registered considerable success with the Cranes since taking the job.

Cranes registered a 2-1 memorable win over Nigeria in a Group Three Nations Cup qualifier in June and despite a dispiriting draw away in Maseru, Uganda stands a chance of qualifying for the Nations Cup .

The coaches’ list has 13 Italians, 11 Frenchmen, nine Germans, eight Brazilians, six Portuguese, five Spaniards, five Cameroonians, four Argentines, three Englishmen, two Danes, and one Uruguayan, Slovenian, Romanian, Pole, Peruvian, Nigerian, Dutch, Hungarian, Chilean, and Bosnian.

Csaba ‘s next assignment is on September 8 when Cranes take on Niger in a must-win encounter at Namboole.