Murushid Juuko

Murushid Juuko (born 14 April 1994) is a Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Express FC.^[1] Juuko also played for the senior national team of Uganda usually called 'The Cranes' and appeared in 39 matches and scored 1 goal before hanging up his boots on 13 January 2022.^[2][3] He was part of the Ugandan team that played at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon and also appeared in the same tournament played in Egypt in 2019. Before those tournaments, Uganda had spent 38 years without participating in the continent's biggest football tournament.^[4]

Murushid Juuko

Juuko with Uganda in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1994-04-14) 14 April 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Entebbe, Uganda
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Express FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2012	Bunamwaya	32	(2)
2013–2014	Victoria University	36	(5)
2014–2019	Simba	149	(7)
2019	Wydad	0	(0)
2020–	Express FC
International career‡
2011–2012	Uganda U20	2	(0)
2013	Uganda U23	4	(0)
2014–	Uganda	39	(1)
Medal record Bunamwaya Winner Uganda Premier League 2010–11 Victoria University Runner-up Uganda Cup 2013 Winner CECAFA Nile Basin Cup 2014 Simba S.C. Winner Mapinduzi Cup 2015 Winner Tanzania FA Cup 2017 Winner Tanzanian Premier League 2017–18 Uganda Winner CECAFA Cup 2015
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:58, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Juuko was born in Entebbe, Wakiso District. He has played club football for Ugandan clubs Bunamwaya and SC Victoria University before moving to Tanzania to play for Simba.He also played for Wydad Cassablanca in Morocco^[5][6]

Juuko joined Express FC in 2020 on a one-year contract.^[7]

International career

Juuko made his Uganda national team (the "Cranes") debut on 11 July 2014 against Seychelles national team.^[8] Uganda national team won 1-0.^[9]

AFCON 2017

Juuko guided the Cranes to their first Africa Cup of Nations finals since 1978. He was part of the team that defeated Comoros 1–0 to qualify for the 2017 finals in Gabon.^[10] Having missed the first game against Ghana due to a suspension picked up during qualifiers he played 180 minutes against Egypt and Mali.^[11]

AFCON 2019

During the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Juuko played two matches, the first one against DR Congo and another against Senegal after sustaining a hamstring injury.^[12] The Uganda Cranes ended the championship in the round of 16.^[13]

Career statistics

International

As of matches played 20 May 2021.^[1]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Uganda	2014	1	0
	2015	8	0
	2016	9	0
	2017	7	0
	2018	6	1
	2019	6	0
	2021	2	0
Total		39	1

International goals

Scores and results list Uganda's goal tally first.^[1]

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	24 March 2018	Mandela National Stadium, Bweyogerere, Uganda	São Tomé and Príncipe	2–0	3–1	Friendly

Honors

Vipers

• Ugandan Premier League: 2010

SC Victoria University

• CECAFA Nile Basin Cup: 2014^[14]
• Ugandan Cup: 2013–14

Simba

• Tanzanian Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19
• Kombe la Shirikisho la Azam (Azam Sports Federation Cup – ASFC): 2017
• Kombe La Mapinduzi: 2015
• SportPesa Super Cup: 2017, 2018

Outside Football

Juuko is an entrepreneur who owns a farm, a bakery and also set up Jusa training school that trainers learners in vocational skills such as baking and cosmetology.^[15]

References

1. Murushid Juuko at National-Football-Teams.com
2. Independent, The (13 January 2022). "Murushid Juuko retires from national team football". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
3. Isabirye, David (13 January 2022). "Uganda Cranes defender Juuko retires from international football". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
4. Marsha, Ahmed (5 September 2016). "Uganda Cranes qualify to the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years". FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
5. Club, Vipers Sports (8 August 2022). "Murushid Juuko is a Venom, again! | Defender returns!". Vipers SC Official Website. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
6. "Juuko is continental material, says coach Kajoba". Monitor. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
7. Mabuka, Dennis (19 October 2020). "Juuko explains why he signed for Uganda giants Express FC". Goal. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
8. "INTERNATIONAL BUILD UP: Uganda beats Seychelles at Lugogo". 11 July 2014.
9. "Uganda vs. Seychelles (1:0)".
10. Weinberg, Ben (22 May 2015). Asia and the Future of Football. doi:10.4324/9781315739298. ISBN 9781315739298.
11. Isabirye, David (1 February 2017). "AFCON 2017: PLAYING TIME FOR UGANDA CRANES PLAYERS". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
12. "AFCON 2019: Defender Juuko returns as Desabre confirms the Uganda Cranes XI against Senegal". 5 July 2019.
13. "Hard fighting Uganda Cranes end AFCON 2019 expedition with Senegal loss". 6 July 2019.
14. "Victoria University win regional Nile Basin title".
15. Ssenoga, Shafik (7 October 2024). "Inspiration Juuko owns a training institute and Farm. Ex-star's bakery employs 18 Staff". New Vision. pp. 46–47.

External links

• Murushid Juuko at Soccerway