Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put believes Arnold Vula has the ability to produce goals from seemingly impossible situations, after the forward marked his international debut with the winning goal against Libya.
Vula scored in the 45+2nd minute from an Allan Okello assist as Uganda defeated Libya 1-0 in the Total Energies AFCON 2027 qualifier at Hoima City Stadium , it was an instant statement from the debutant, who showed his attacking instincts at a crucial moment of the match. With the first half approaching its conclusion, Vula found the breakthrough to send Uganda into the interval with the lead.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Put revealed that his decision to bring Vula into the Uganda setup was based on a long-standing interest in the player.
“I think he is the kind of player who can score a goal from nothing,” Put said.
Image (Courtesy of Merci Nkurunziza ) : Uganda Cranes Head Coach Paul Put in the presser .
The Cranes coach was keen to make it clear that his interest in Vula was not simply because the striker plays his football in Belgium. Put said he had been following the forward for a considerable period of time and had already identified qualities he believed could benefit Uganda.
“I have been following him longtime. It’s not because he’s playing in Belgium but I followed him longtime,” Put explained.
Put also pointed to Vula’s numbers at club level as an indication of his goal-scoring and creative ability. According to the coach, the striker scored 15 goals last season and also provided seven assists , those numbers were part of what made Vula an attractive option for the Cranes, but his first appearance for Uganda provided the coach with something even more immediate evidence on the pitch.
Vula needed just one half to open his international account , his goal came after Okello provided the assist, with Vula completing the move in the 45+2nd minute to give Uganda a crucial advantage before the break.
Put was particularly impressed by the quality of the finish and the instinct behind it.
“I think he proved today with the goal that he scored,” the coach said.
“It was a fantastic goal,” Put added.
Image ( courtesy ) : Arnold Vula lamb during the match against Libya
For the coach, having a striker capable of producing such moments can make a significant difference during a match, particularly when chances are limited.
Put explained the feeling from a coach’s perspective: “If you sit as a coach and you bring a player that can score and then you're in heaven.”
That was exactly what Vula provided on his debut , one decisive moment that changed the match.
The forward was later substituted, with Kelvin Owusu Boateng coming on as his replacement, but by then Vula had already done his part. His 45+2nd-minute goal remained the difference between the two sides as Uganda protected the lead and secured three points.
The performance also offered a glimpse of the type of forward Put believes he has in Vula: a player capable of finding the back of the net without needing a large number of opportunities.
For Vula, the night at Hoima City Stadium could hardly have gone better. He made his first appearance for Uganda, scored the only goal of the game and helped the Cranes secure victory in a crucial AFCON qualifying fixture.
For Put, however, the goal was more than just a debut moment. It was confirmation of a quality he had already seen while following Vula , the ability to create something out of very little.
And after scoring on his first night in a Uganda shirt, Vula has given the Cranes another attacking option as the qualification campaign continues.
