Former Black Starlets coach Laryea Kingston has been unveiled as the Head Coach of Uganda’s national men’s junior teams.
The former Ghanaian midfielder will be in charge of the East African country’s U-15, U-17 and U-20 sides.
The U-17 boys, who have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar, will, however, continue to be coached by Brian Senyondo at the tournament.
Laryea Kingston is expected to work closely with the Development Director of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).
At a short ceremony to unveil him to the press at FUFA House, Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson highlighted the move as a major step towards strengthening Uganda’s junior national teams through year-round preparation and talent development.
“We have situations where the identification of players at underage levels happens only when a tournament is around the corner,” he said.
“This has not only limited exposure for young players but has also created gaps in consistency and development. FUFA has therefore developed a Technical Master Plan, particularly focusing on youth football to address these concerns.”
On his part, Laryea Kingston, who played against Uganda’s Cranes in the qualifiers to the Black Stars’ maiden World Cup appearance in 2006, expressed gratitude to FUFA for the confidence reposed in him.
“I still remember vividly playing against Uganda during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in Accra.
“It was one of the toughest matches for us, and since then, I have always had great respect for Ugandan football.”
He pledged to prioritise grassroots engagement and collaboration with local clubs, academies and community structures to identify and nurture young talent.
“We will focus on developing not only technical skills but also discipline, teamwork, and mental strength.
“Together, with the support of the federation, coaches and the community, we can create a strong foundation for the future of Ugandan football.”
Until his appointment, Laryea Kingston was a youth coach at Right to Play Academy.
