Meet the Scottish teenagers poised to represent Uganda
Meet the Scottish teenagers poised to represent Uganda. I didn't really think that this was a possibility but I was honoured to be asked to represent Uganda.
What happened
Image caption, Olly Fisher, second right, with his Ugandan team-mates'The other boys have been brand new' There is another Scottish link with Uganda, with former Hearts and Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston currently coach of Uganda's under-20s. "Image caption, The Fisher brothers with Uganda Under-20s head coach and former Hearts player Laryea KingstonRelated topicsFootballScottish FootballPartick Thistle Figure caption, How two Scots ended up playing for UgandaByJane LewisBBC Sport ScotlandPublished5 hours agoTeenage brothers Olly and Seb Fisher are closing in on their dream of international recognition – but it won't come from their homeland of Scotland.
Instead, the Partick Thistle duo are in line to play for Uganda. They believe they would become the first white players ever to represent the African nation, thanks to their mother Kate being born there. "The siblings became aware of interest from Uganda about six months ago, following a chance conversation some time before between their father and a football consultant at a game in Nigeria. "Coach Kingston was saying we'd be the first white boys to play for Uganda, which would be history in the making," Seb explained.
The wider picture
"The pair feel like they're making connections with the African nation, having been reared on stories about Uganda from their grandparents. Teenage brothers Olly and Seb Fisher are closing in on their dream of international recognition – but it won't come from their homeland of Scotland. "My gran and grandad lived out here for, I think, four or five years," Olly, 18, tells BBC Sport Scotland. "My grandfather came out here to teach in a school then my mum was born here.
And, at the start of August, they were invited to attend under-20 and under-17s training camps. They spent last week in Jinja in the country's eastern region and will stay on for one more week, with the pair saying they're "shocked" and "honoured" at the call-ups. "I couldn't believe it," 16-year-old striker Seb said. "It's one of those things you look at and you're shocked.
What has been reported
"Mum Kate is "ecstatic" and "thinks it'd be a great experience for us", adds Seb. And he is the one who believes the Fisher brothers are on the verge of making history. "And Olly added: "It's never been done before, so definitely it is very special. And even though they have been training in oppressively warm conditions, they are embracing the opportunity. "Everyone has been brilliant, welcoming, really great," Seb said. Some of the boys actually come from the same area where my mum was born.
"The boys will return to Scotland soon, combining training and playing with Thistle with university and school, but are planning to rejoin their new international team-mates in the near future. Olly hopes to be part of his squad if they qualify for the Under-20's Africa Cup of Nations early next year, and Seb could be in the Under-17 squad for November's World Cup in Qatar.
What happens next
"That's what you want as a footballer, being in an international environment," Seb said. "It makes you a better player and hopefully it does for the two of us, and I think it will, and benefit us very much going back to Scotland playing at Thistle.