Ugandan international Calvin Kabuye has completed a move to Swedish top-flight side Mjällby AIF from second-division outfit Sandvikens IF, signing a five-year contract that will run through the 2029 season.
Following his unveiling on Wednesday, the 21-year-old offensive talent outlined his ambitions for the 2025 season, targeting the league championship, which would secure a spot in the coveted UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
In an exclusive phone interview with The Nerve Africa, Kabuye revealed that Mjällby’s goals for the upcoming season were made clear to him before he agreed to the deal and that they align with his personal aspirations heading into the new campaign.
“I’m a very aggressive and ambitious player, and I hold big dreams, and I’m glad they align with what this club stands for. It’s not about the money, as some had suggested,” Kabuye said in the interview.
“My dream and target are clear and set in stone: it’s the Champions League. And this only comes with winning the league here. The club is also striving towards that, and everyone at the club is aiming for the same goal. We have to push for the top levels, and we won’t stop at anything to get there,” he added.
Mjällby finished fifth in the 2024 season, accumulating 50 points, 15 behind eventual champions Malmo. This marked a significant improvement from their 10th-place finish in 2023, where they collected 41 points in 30 matches.
Kabuye is confident that the club’s upward trajectory will continue as they prepare to mount a title challenge next season. “We’re going to give ourselves a chance for the title, and that will be evident in every game we play.”
He added, “So, that’s our goal for the coming season, both as a team and for me personally. On a personal level, I want to improve my stats in terms of goals, assists, defending, and how well I help my teammates achieve the desired results.”
In the previous season at Sandvikens, Kabuye made 30 competitive appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing one assist. This was an improvement over his performance at Ostersunds FK in 2023, where he scored four goals and assisted three in 29 matches.
“I always demand more from myself because good is never enough. I know my abilities, and I’m fully aware that I can always improve. I want to help my team succeed, but I also want to contribute more to my national team (Uganda), especially since we’ll be playing in the Africa Cup of Nations next year,” the attacker added.
Meanwhile, after several call-ups, Kabuye made his long-awaited debut for the Uganda national senior team, the Cranes, in a match against Congo Brazzaville, as they secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
