👑 He was meant to be king! Why this footballer turned down the crown | OneFootball

Our sport has always known many kings. Pelé was once crowned the "King of Football." At Manchester United, Eric Cantona was simply "King Eric." For George Desmond Kamurasi, however, that title could have become a very real one. The goalkeeper of English ninth-tier side SE Dons was actually supposed to become king in Uganda. But he turned it down.

Kamurasi, 36, is captain of the team from southeast London and is best known there by the nickname "Big G." Recently, however, his name surfaced in a completely different context: Kamurasi was the preferred candidate of the Royal Succession Committee to take on the role of "Omukama," the king of the Tooro people.

The previous king, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, a cousin of Kamurasi, died last month. A 21-member commission then made the keeper its first choice. According to reports from Uganda, as many as 15 members voted for him.

But Kamurasi apparently had other plans. He is said to have declined the crown because his existing commitments prevented him from taking on the vacant role. "The first candidate said, 'I am not in a position to be king,'" explained Fr. Dr. Charles Oyo from the committee.

That settled the matter for amateur footballer Kamurasi. Instead, the choice fell on Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma. He is a news anchor and editor at the state broadcaster. But his appointment is also controversial. Members of the late king’s family have already challenged the decision.

Meanwhile, Kamurasi will remain a goalkeeper and continue to guard the net for SE Dons. At the moment, things are going really well too. The Londoners are playing in the FA Cup for the first time and most recently beat Erith Town 2–0. The club, founded in 2014 by English rapper Don Strapzy, is best known for its social media presence. Kamurasi is one of its most defining figures and is especially known for his passionate speeches before matches.

So perhaps it was a good decision to turn down the throne after all.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 WPA Pool - 2013 Getty Images