A down-to earth fellow known in football circles as "the Dancing Rasta" because of his flashy style of play and the ability to make defenders dance to his tune, Allan Kateregga is one of a kind. The Ugandan spent a lot of time on the sidelines after his contract with a team in Iraq was cancelled but is now the mainstay of Democratic Republic of Congo giants FC Saint- Eloi Lupopo. He is one of the players credited with contributing to the club's rise as serious challengers to the throne once occupied by fallen giants TP Mazembe. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Thomas Kwenaite, the 28-year-old attacker details his disappointment at denying his club all three points against USM Alger in the CAF Confederation Cup when he smashed the ball into his own net to gift them a point at the death. Kateregga also talks about a Mamelodi Sundowns player that he rates so highly and their do-or-die encounter against Marumo Gallants this coming Sunday.
Thomas Kwenaite: It must have been disappointing for your club FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo to draw 1-1 against USM Alger in matchday five of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
Allan Kateregga: It was indeed very disappointing and a bit of bad luck, if I may say, from the way we conceded with arguably the last kick of the game. I must also point out that also in Libya, we conceded in the 90th minute of the match. But yeah, we haven't and we will not give up. We are hoping we get some good luck in our last group stage game against Marumo Gallants.
TK: So, in a sense, you have it all to do against Gallants in South Africa, where a win is a must and pray other results go your way this Sunday.
AK: There is no two ways about it. We have to go out there and give it our best shot. We must go onto the field and leave everything on the pitch against Gallants. They are a pretty decent team, but we must fight for every inch of the park and every loose ball. Obviously it is no longer in our hands and we will hope and pray that results in the other match should also favour us.
TK: You know the Mzansi set-up better than most Lupopo players. Has the technical team asked you about intelligence regarding the opposition and how the team can overcome them?
AK: You are correct, yes. The technical team did ask me a lot about Gallants prior to the first leg match. This is standard procedure everywhere and every little bit of intel helps in such situations. I believe they are very well aware of the threat posed by Gallant now, but I will be glad to assist if they enquire about them again.
TK: Lupopo must have watched the video of the match in which Gallants lost 4-1 to Al Akhdar. Do you feel that result gives you guys hope?
AK: Personally I haven't had a chance to watch the game in which they lost to Akhdar, but I'm sure we shall have an opportunity to analyse the match and hope to get some knowledge on how to inflict the same pain. Yeah, that result does give us a lot of hope, but without undermining the ability of Gallants and what they have achieved in the tournament thus far.
TK: Did the coach say anything to you after your unfortunate incident (scoring an own goal) that gifted USM?
AK: Yeah, coach Mohamed Magassouba is an experienced coach and has previously coached the Malian national team at the 2019 Afcon finals in Egypt. He has a very good grasp of the situation as well as an unmatched understanding of the unfortunate incident. He urged me to accept the situation, to remain strong and (told me) that what happened was only but the will of God. He said I must learn from that experience in order to grow as a footballer.
TK: Let us switch to the domestic game in the DR Congo. AS Vita have set the pace with 31 points after 11 matches and Lupopo are nine points behind in second position, with a game in hand. Can you guys catch up to them?
AK: Anything is possible in life as long as you believe. We can definitely catch up with them. Remember there is still a long way to go. There are 20 teams in the Linafoot Premier League and we have only played 10 matches so far. I'm certain we shall catch up with Vita Club in the domestic league. We have garnered a handful of experience on the continent and we are better-suited to compete in the local league.
TK: What has gone wrong with TP Mazembe? Besides struggling in this season's CAF Confederation Cup, they do not seem capable of catching up to Vita as they have lost so much ground…
AK: Mazembe are currently fourth with 15 points after only nine games. But since I am not privy to what is happening there or am interested in what they are doing or planning, I honestly cannot comment about Mazembe. In my view, they are a household name in both the local league and on the continent and we respect that. We cannot forget overnight what they have achieved in the past and remember, they remain the only African team to have ever reached the final of the FIFA World Club competition and we must respect that.
TK: Fair enough. Moving on, your teammate Patou Kabangu is a famous figure after playing for Mazembe for many years. Do you talk and discuss strategies since you are both creative forces for Lupopo?
AK: Patou Kabangu is an amazing player and a legend of Congolese football. Indeed, we do discuss strategies, but the final say is obviously with the coach, of course. I do seek advice from him time and again. He's one of the few English-speaking players in the team, where the majority speak French and Lingala. He is also captain and so he has, over a period of time, assisted me to understand the coach's instructions and helped me settle in well at Lupopo and in the mineral-rich town of Lubumbashi, where we are based.
TK: So, how did your move to Lupopo come about?
AK: I moved to Lupopo a year-and-a-half ago after spending a lengthy period on the sidelines because of the Covid-19 pandemic and injury. My contract at Erbil (Iraq) was a yearlong (one). I had done about seven months when Covid struck and so I stayed in the city a further six months of lockdown, so technically my contract ran out. It was only fair that I returned home for mental stability and shortly after that came to South Africa for treatment because I had sustained an injury during a Uganda Cranes camping session in Dubai during 2020.
TK: Tell us about your stay in South Africa as well as your experience about the topflight here.
AK: My stay in SA was very educational. I learnt almost everything I know about professionalism down south. I believe I am a better player since my stint in Mzansi and I am grateful for the time I spent at the Citizens as well as at the Team of Choice.
TK: What was so special about that Cape Town City side you turned out for?
AK: Benni McCarthy! I am not surprised that he has made such an impact at Manchester United as their striker coach. Man, look at how he has transformed a man like Marcus Rashford, who has overnight become a complete striker! Give McCarthy credit and personally, I learned so much from him as well. His knowledge and understanding of the game is uncanny. We had a rather unique relationship compared to the other coaches that I have worked with throughout my career.
TK: You have played football in Uganda, Kenya, Iraq, SA and now DRC. Where have you enjoyed your football the most?
AK: I have played in five countries, but I must admit I enjoyed my football so much at Maritzburg United and a little more than I did at Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) FC. I came in at the Team of Choice while the team was chasing a rather unforeseeable dream and immediately things started to change dramatically. The two goals I scored late in the second half against Bloemfontein Celtic will remain indelible in my mind. I deeply cherish my time there.
TK: Of course, you go by the moniker "the Dancing Rasta"!
AK: (Laughs uproariously) Yeah, I am called the Dancing Rasta apparently because of my flashy playing style of football and for my dreadlocks too, I'm told. I am certainly not a fancy dancer though.
TK: During your stay in the SA Premiership, which defender gave you a tough time?
AK: To be honest, I don't remember a defender giving me a hard time, but I was rather comfortable playing while at Maritzburg because I knew I had Rushine De Reuck behind me in my defence. He is a fantastically gifted defender and can read the game so well. Always calm. Even under a difficult situation, he remains composed. I hear that he's injured and I do wish him a quick recovery.
TK: You last featured for the Cranes of Uganda at the Afcon finals in Egypt before you got injured. Has the technical team kept in contact with you?
AK: I last featured for the Uganda national team in Egypt but was part of the Uganda Cranes during their Dubai camp in 2020, where I picked up an injury. The manager has since changed and now coach "Micho" (Milutin Sredojevic) is in charge.
TK: Has Micho perhaps encouraged you to work harder and maybe told you he was monitoring you?
AK: Coach Micho and myself have immense respect for each other and we do talk quite a lot about football and life in general. He constantly encourages me to keep working hard and that I will get a call-up soon.
TK: Thank you, Dancing Rasta!
AK: It was my pleasure and once again, please tell De Reuck that I wish him a speedy recovery!
ALLAN KATEREGGA FACT FILE
Date of birth: 3 June 1994
Place of birth: Mulago, Uganda
Nickname: Dancing Rasta
Position: Midfielder
Jersey number: 39
Club: FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo (DRC)
Previous clubs: Victoria University (Uganda), Tusker (Kenya), BUL Jinja FC (Uganda), Leopards (Kenya), KCCA FC (Uganda), Cape Town City, Maritzburg United (loan), Erbil SC (Iraq)
Honours: 2013 KPL Top 8 Cup winner, 2014 KPL Top 8 Cup winner (both with Tusker), 2017 FKF President's Cup winner (with Leopards), 2017 Ugandan Cup winner, 2017 FUFA Super Cup winner (both with KCCA FC), 2018, MTN8 winner (with Cape Town City), 8 Uganda national team caps
