Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa and his son Timothy Tayebwa Sunday morning engaged with Manchester United goalkeeper Andrey Onana, who is in Uganda for Cameroon’s AFCON qualifier fixture with neighbors Kenya on Monday.
This encounter between Tayebwa and Onana took place at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala where the West African national team is camping just before Cameroon’s crucial match in Group J.
During the engagement, Tayebwa emphasized Uganda’s passionate Manchester United fan base, encouraging Onana to advocate for a visit from the iconic football club.
“Together with my son, we had an exciting interaction with @AndreyOnana this morning. The @ManUtd goalkeeper is in Uganda for their @DiskiAfrika qualifier match against @Harambee__Stars of Kenya,” Hon Tayebwa posted on Sunday morning.
“As ardent @ManUtd fans, we are excited to see an African raising our continent’s flag at the biggest football club in the world. And I’m glad at the way he has settled in, and we are praying for his success,” he added.
“On a lighter note, I informed him how I will make research to see if he has relatives in Uganda since the Bakiga originated from Cameroon. I’m equally excited about the invitation he has extended to me and my son to watch him live in action at Old Trafford.”
Cameroon, known as the Indomitable Lions, arrived in Uganda on Saturday, ready to face the Harambee Stars at Mandela Stadium on Monday.
The visit to Kampala marks their second trip to Uganda in recent months, following a match against Zimbabwe that drew thousands of fans last month.
The chance for supporters to see Onana and the Indomitable Lions play live at Namboole has been reduced, though, as the Kenya Football Federation declared that the next AFCON qualifiers will take place behind closed doors.
It is a disappointment for the ardent fan base anxious to support their hero that many Ugandan Manchester United followers, who cheered for Cameroon during their previous encounter, would now have to do it from outside the stadium.
