Image caption,
Olly and Seb Fisher’s mother was born in Uganda
- Published47 minutes ago
Teenage brothers Olly and Seb Fisher are closing in on their dream of international recognition – but it won’t come from their homeland of Scotland.
Instead, the Partick Thistle duo are in line to play for Uganda.
They believe they would become the first white players ever to represent the African nation, thanks to their mother Kate being born there.
“My gran and grandad lived out here for, I think, four or five years,” Olly, 18, tells BBC Sport Scotland. “My grandfather came out here to teach in a school then my mum was born here. So, it’s a bit of a strange one.”
The siblings became aware of interest from Uganda about six months ago, following a chance conversation some time before between their father and a football consultant at a game in Nigeria.
And, at the start of August, they were invited to attend under-20 and under-17s training camps.
They spent last week in Jinja in the country’s eastern region and will stay on for one more week, with the pair saying they’re “shocked” and “honoured” at the call-ups.
“I couldn’t believe it,” 16-year-old striker Seb said. “It’s one of those things you look at and you’re shocked. You can’t believe it. Most other people couldn’t as well.”
Goalkeeper Olly had a similar reaction. “A real mixture of emotions,” he said. “I was quite shocked. I didn’t really think that this was a possibility but I was honoured to be asked to represent Uganda. I thought it was a real big opportunity.”
Mum Kate is “ecstatic” and “thinks it’d be a great experience for us”, adds Seb.
Image caption,
Olly Fisher, second right, with his Ugandan team-mates
‘The other boys have been brand new’
There is another Scottish link with Uganda, with former Hearts and Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston currently coach of Uganda’s under-20s.
And he is the one who believes the Fisher brothers are on the verge of making history.
“Coach Kingston was saying we’d be the first white boys to play for Uganda, which would be history in the making,” Seb explained. “It is very special.”
And Olly added: “It’s never been done before, so definitely it is very special.”
The pair feel like they’re making connections with the African nation, having been reared on stories about Uganda from their grandparents.
And even though they have been training in oppressively warm conditions, they are embracing the opportunity.
“Everyone has been brilliant, welcoming, really great,” Seb said. “The other boys have been brand new with us. Some of the boys actually come from the same area where my mum was born. So, they were all talking about that.”
The boys will return to Scotland soon, combining training and playing with Thistle with university and school, but are planning to rejoin their new international team-mates in the near future.
Olly hopes to be part of his squad if they qualify for the Under-20’s Africa Cup of Nations early next year, and Seb could be in the Under-17 squad for November’s World Cup in Qatar.
“That’s what you want as a footballer, being in an international environment,” Seb said. “It makes you a better player and hopefully it does for the two of us, and I think it will, and benefit us very much going back to Scotland playing at Thistle.”
Image caption,
The Fisher brothers with Uganda Under-20s head coach and former Hearts player Laryea Kingston
