For two teenage Scottish brothers from Partick Thistle, the dream of international football recognition is taking an unexpected and historic turn. Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Olly Fisher and 16-year-old striker Seb Fisher are on track to represent Uganda, a path they never could have anticipated just a year ago. What makes this opportunity even more remarkable is their eligibility through birthright: their mother Kate was born in Uganda, after their grandfather moved there to teach and spent four or five years raising a family in the East African nation. If they earn their spots in the national youth teams, the siblings will become the first white players to ever wear an Uganda national football shirt, a milestone that has already captured attention across both countries.
The chain of events that led to this unique opportunity started with a casual conversation years ago. The Fished’ father struck up a chance chat with a football consultant at a match in Nigeria, and six months ago, the family learned that Uganda’s national youth program was interested in bringing the brothers in for trials. By early August, the pair received official invitations to join the under-20 and under-17 national training camps respectively. They traveled to Jinja, in eastern Uganda, last week and are set to stay for another week to complete their camp assessments.
Both brothers have described their shock and deep honor at receiving the call-ups. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the invitation,” Seb recalled in an interview with BBC Sport Scotland. “It’s the kind of opportunity that you never imagine coming your way, even in your wildest dreams. Most people I’ve told can barely believe it either.” Olly echoed his brother’s reaction, noting that the news brought a flood of conflicting emotions: “I was really shocked because I never thought this was a possibility. But at the same time, I felt so honored to be asked to represent Uganda. It’s a huge opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.” Their mother Kate, who was born in the country her sons are now set to represent, is ecstatic about the experience, telling the boys it will be life-changing no matter what happens.
There is already a strong Scottish connection guiding the brothers through this process, as Laryea Kingston, the current head coach of Uganda’s under-20 national team, is a former Hearts and Ghana midfielder with deep ties to Scottish football. Coach Kingston is the one who first highlighted the historic nature of the Fisher brothers’ potential call-ups, a point that is not lost on the teenagers. “Coach Kingston told us we’d be the first white players to represent Uganda, which means this would be history in the making,” Seb said. “That makes it really, really special.” Olly agreed, adding that breaking new ground for the nation’s football program makes the entire experience feel one-of-a-kind.
Growing up, the brothers heard countless stories about Uganda from their grandparents, so the country already feels like a connected part of their family history, even before they set foot on its soil. Though they have had to adapt to oppressively warm training conditions that they never experienced back in Scotland, the brothers say they have been embraced wholeheartedly by their new teammates. “Everyone has been so brilliant and welcoming,” Seb explained. “Some of the boys actually come from the same area where my mum was born, so we’ve had a lot to talk about already, and it’s helped us build those connections fast.”
After the training camp concludes, the brothers will return to Scotland to resume their everyday lives: Olly will split his time between playing for Partick Thistle and starting university, while Seb will go back to playing for the club and finishing secondary school. But both are already planning ahead for their return to Uganda to join their international teammates. Olly has his sights set on securing a spot on the under-20 squad if Uganda qualifies for next year’s Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, while Seb is hoping to earn a place on the under-17 roster for the Under-17 World Cup scheduled for November in Qatar. For the young footballers, this opportunity is exactly what every aspiring player dreams of. “That’s what you want as a footballer, being in an international environment,” Seb said. “Pushing yourself against top talent and competing at this level will only make you a better player. I’m sure this experience will benefit us a lot when we go back to Scotland and continue playing for Partick Thistle.”