Dan Sserunkuma receiving rave reviews

If there is anything you can say about Gor Mahia striker Dan Sserunkuma, it is that the bigger the occasion, the higher he rises. When the team needs him the most is when he rises to the occasion. When the 2013 season reached a critical stage and Gor Mahia were gunning to win the league for the first time in 18 years, Sserunkuma went on a tear, scoring crucial goal after crucial goal. And his scoring record against AFC Leopards is unsurpassed.

As things stand now, Sserunkuma is atop the goal scoring charts with 14 goals, way ahead of second placed Enock Agwanda who has 9 goals. It is a significant improvement from 2013 when he bagged 8 goals. Last year however, Sserunkuma spent much of the first leg on the bench since Croatian coach Zdravko Logarusic preferred a forward combination of Rama Salim and Mungai Kiongera. Before coach Williamson arrived, he had been Uganda Cranes coach for several years, yet he had never called Sserunkuma to the national team. As soon as he arrived, he must have been left scratching his head, wondering why he had never called up Sserunkuma.

And in 2012, Sserunkuma switched to Gor Mahia from Nairobi City Stars at the halfway point of the league and ended with 17 goals, only one behind the top scorer John Baraza. And with Rama Salim bagging 12 goals to finish 3rd in scoring, Gor Mahia had the most lethal forwardline combination.

Despite his significant accomplishments, Sserumkuma remains grounded and humble as described by team captain Jerim Onyango.

“What sets him apart from other forwards on the pitch is that he knows what he has and what he doesn’t have. He knows he doesn’t have much physically, and so he has perfected two areas: his positioning and finishing. He knows where to be at what time and so he wastes fewer chances,” said Jerim to the KPL website.

Key to Sserunkuma’s success in finding the net is his strong work ethic, as described by assistant coach Frank Ouna.

“Sserunkuma is one player every coach would want to work with. He is very mature and very well disciplined. He will never miss training whether he has scored a hat trick or not.

“I am not surprised by his accomplishments because he is very hard working and has great team spirit. Sometimes I am amazed that he is still playing here with us. He carries himself very professionally and it is hard to cross paths with him.”  said Ouna to the KPL website.

Ouna went on to say that Sserunkuma’s tactical approach is one of the keys to his goalscoring exploits.

“What sets him apart from other forwards on the pitch is that he knows what he has and what he doesn’t have. He knows he doesn’t have much physically, and so he has perfected two areas: his positioning and finishing. He knows where to be at what time and so he wastes fewer chances,” he said.

A classic example was the goal he scored against City stars with a perfectly timed run to meet the cross from Timothy Otieno.

But Sserunkuma has significant physical gifts. One of which is his rapid acceleration that often leaves defenders flat footed. This aspect of his game reminds fans of former Gor Mahia winger Mike Otieno who had talent but wasted it with a lackadaisical attitude.   Sserunkuma also has a shot that is not only accurate but powerful.

The team makes Sserunkuma look good

Whereas some may claim that Gor Mahia are too dependent on the Ugandan talisman, a closer look will reveal that all of Sserunkuma’s goals are a team effort. As has been mentioned by Frank Ouna, Sserunkuma makes very clever runs. But all that would be wasted if he was not getting good delivery. Look at his last three field goals. Against Chemelil, Musa Mohamed picked him out with a precise long ball from the right flank which Sserunkuma back-headed in much to the bewilderment of the Chemelil Keeper who did not expect it. Then Blackberry calmly chested a ball and before even turning , looped to an advancing Sserunkuma without even looking; This is a sign that Blackberry and Sserunkuma are starting to gain an understanding. Then last weekend, Timothy Otieno did the spadework  and found Sserunkuma with a precise cross which the latter tapped in.