Ugandan defender Murushid Juuko has officially announced his retirement from international football.
The Express FC star, who has represented the Cranes on 39 occasions, scoring two goals, revealed the decision on social media on Thursday.
The 27-year-old featured for Cranes during their failed 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign where he played his last match in September last year.
Juuko penned an emotional farewell to the international scene which was shared across his social media accounts.
“If you told me as a young boy I would have played for my country (The Uganda Cranes) over fifty caps and lined up against some of the biggest national teams, I would have told you it was a fantasy. I am fortunate to have realised those dreams,” Juuko said in a statement on Thursday.
“To this day one of my proudest achievements is representing my country at two AFCON tournaments especially in 2017 which was the first time we qualified in 39 years. I wouldn’t have achieved what i have done today without my family. I am grateful for the sacrifices made by everyone around me because it has enabled me to play at the highest level for such a long period.
“I want to thank my team-mates, the great coaches that I had the pleasure of learning from, the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed and FUFA for the unwavering support towards me when i played for the national team.
“Nothing will ever completely replace the feeling of donning the national team jersey, however I feel like the time is right for me to retire from the Uganda Cranes. I am fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my international career and now I feel it’s my time to give back by retiring from the national team to concentrate on my club football career.”
Juuko represented Uganda in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt where he sustained an injury during the first game against DR Congo.
He was also part of Uganda squad that participated in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon under coach Micho Sredojevic.
