Ugandan striker Derrick Kakooza is set to head to Belgium to trial with top-flight outfit Standard Liège, sources from The Nerve Africa have exclusively learned.
This development comes months after the 22-year-old’s move to Latvian side FK Liepāja fell through due to a failed visa application. Kakooza’s last club was Ethiopian top-flight side Bunna, which he left in January this year by mutual agreement, becoming a free agent.
According to sources at his representing agency, ABP Sports Management Uganda, Kakooza is scheduled to travel to Belgium on Monday with the ambition of impressing Standard Liège and securing a permanent contract. The club has requested trials for the player due to his inactivity for almost a year.
“This is a glimmer of hope for Derrick (Kakooza), who is a big talent, to revive his career at such a prestigious club. Standard Liège really admires his potential and has kept tabs on him since the 2020 U20 Africa Cup of Nations. They still believe he can become the prolific goalscorer he showed promise of being as a teenager, but they want to proceed cautiously. He’ll travel next Monday for the trials, and we remain hopeful,” a source told The Nerve Africa in an exclusive interview.
The striker will be returning to Europe, having previously played for Valmiera FC in 2022. He has also played for ENPPI in the Egyptian Premier League and Police FC in Uganda’s top-tier league.
On the international stage, Kakooza has represented Uganda’s senior national team, the Cranes, in four matches, scoring one goal. He was also the top scorer at the 2020 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania with six goals and was named in the tournament’s Best XI as Uganda reached the final, where they lost to Ghana.
