Former Ghana U-17 head coach Laryea Kingston has revealed that unfavourable feedback from some Ghanaian football officials almost denied him the opportunity to coach Uganda’s U-17 national team.

According to Kingston, the Uganda Football Association contacted football stakeholders in Ghana after he was shortlisted for the role, seeking background information on his personality and coaching style. However, the responses he received through the process were largely negative, casting doubt on his suitability for the job.

Kingston admitted he was shocked by the nature of the reports, which portrayed him as controversial and difficult to work with.

He explained that the criticism stemmed mainly from his exit as Ghana U-17 coach following the team’s semifinal defeat to Burkina Faso in the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship on May 24, 2024.

The former Black Stars winger defended his approach during his time with the Ghanaian youth side, insisting that firmness and discipline were wrongly interpreted as controversy.

Despite the damaging feedback, Kingston was eventually handed the job and has since silenced doubters by leading Uganda’s U-17 team to qualification for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, marking a major milestone in his young coaching career.