Injury ruined Anaku’s future at Dundee
Anaku, a year long on sickbay
Former KCCA Star released ahead of 2024/25 season
Dundee United releases 11, sends 3 back
#UgSportsNow
For a long time, Ugandan footballers have reaped dividends from playing outside the country with many signing deals that have transformed their lives. However, countable Ugandans have managed to kick into the next gear with moves to top leagues in the world. A good number have failed to complete and/or extend their contracts, ending right back where they started.
The former Kasasiro Starboy Sadat Anaku has faced the same at his Scottish club, Dundee United. The youngster has been released by the club on expiry of his contract as the team prepare for a new season.
Anaku suffered an injury in April 2023, and was ruled out for the rest of the calendar year. He joins a list of Ugandan professional footballers whose professional stints were cut short due to injuries.
Sadat Anaku while at KCCA FC
“With our promotion back to the Scottish Premiership confirmed, preparations for the 2024/25 campaign are already underway, and therefore we can provide an initial squad update on players who will be departing the club upon the expiry of their contracts.” club statement reads.
Sadat Anaku, Mark Birighitti, Layton Bisland, Logan Chalmers, Flynn Duffy, Declan Glass, Scott McMann, Archie Meekison, Chris Mochrie, Craig Moore and David Wotherspoon will all leave Dundee United this summer.
Furthermore, Jack Walton, Jordan Tillson, Alex Greive and Sam McClelland have returned to their parent clubs, Luton Town, Ross County, St Mirren and St Johnstone respectively.
“We would like to place on record our gratitude to all players moving on to pastures new for their services in tangerine, and extend our best wishes for their future endeavours.” the statement continued.
“The club will communicate further updates regarding the playing squad in due course.” they added.
How Anaku joined Scottish side
Dundee United confirmed the signing of Sadat Anaku on a two year deal in August, 2022.
Full name; Sadat Happy Anaku Ana was born on the 9th day of December, 2000. The talented lad is a Ugandan born professional footballer who playing as a forward for Scottish club Dundee United, a side he joined from Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC).
Anaku played in his native Uganda for Kampala Capital City Authority, scoring 22 goals in 67 games for the club before signing a two-year contract with Scottish club Dundee United in August 2022, following a successful trial.
At Dundee, Anaku played 15 games in all competitions but didn’t register a goal nor an assist before a long term injury ruled him out of action for a long spell.
International career
In September 2021 he represented a Ugandan select team on a regional tour,[10] and in February 2022 he represented a Ugandan select team in an exhibition match in Spain.
Anaku was called up by the Ugandan senior national team in August, 2022.
Some of Ugandan players who returned after failed stint
A number of Ugandan players have failed in their stints abroad, from Emmanuel Okwi at Etoile Du Sahel, Muhammad Shaban at Raja Casablanca, Edirisa Lubega in Austria, Derrick Nsibambi in Egypt (before his return), Milton Karisa Morocco to Murushid Jjuuko at Wydad Casablanca, the list is endless.
