SCOTLAND'S World Cup destiny will be shaped over the next seven days in vital showdowns with Holland and Iceland.

Thousands of miles away, however, Bobby Williamson will be the only other native-born Scot on the international stage.

As boss of the Ugandan national side, the former Rangers player is charged with rekindling the footballing fortunes of this East African nation. In an exclusive interview, ALISON McCONNELL talked to Williamson about his new life - and why's he's in no rush to take the high road home.

H e is not homesick. Nor does Bobby Williamson hanker for old luxuries or for a way of life that seems like a long time ago.

In charge of the Ugandan national side, the former Rangers player and ex-Kilmarnock and Hibs boss remains driven and focused.

His idea of success and of ambitions being met has been revised somewhat these past few months, but his focus has not wavered.

Uganda's chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup ended after they narrowly failed to make the third phase of qualifying games, but 47-year-old Williamson continues to be upbeat about the job he is doing in Africa.

Unbeaten in their last nine games, Williamson reckons he is slowly moving in the right direction with Uganda, but believes that success now means more than simply putting points on the board.

"It would be good to keep getting results, but I couldn't say specifically what would count as serious success here," he said.

"To me, getting one or two of these lads a professional contract in Europe would give me as much satisfaction as anything else.

"I do speak to other managers and agents and there have been a few enquiries, but the problems are all bureaucratic ones - red tape and work permits and visas, etc.

"However, I am doing a job that I love and the people here have been very good to me."

The cultural differences were, inevitably, the biggest thing for Williamson to get used to.

For example, following an way game in Sudan a few weeks back, most of Williamson's players boarded the bus for the airport with carpets tucked under their arms since they were far cheaper in Khartoum than in Kampala where he is based.

Given that he was used to working with players for whom money is little object, it suggests an open-mindness on Williamson's part that he took up a role so far removed to that which he was used to.

He has had to face up to the fact the heavyweights of African football come from the west coast - Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Williamson admits Uganda, on the east, is well behind, but wants to push them up Fifa's rankings from their current 69th slot in order to bring in more money.

He said: "The west coast is more advanced in terms of its infrastructure and facilities.

"A lot of that is because European clubs have come in for a lot of players, and the money that has brought in has been reinvested. The only way we can really go about changing that is to try and move up the Fifa rankings.

"If we do that and start to bring in a bit more cash and use it wisely, it helps everyone.

"However, it is difficult. The facilities are poor and we are playing games across a massive geographical area, so there is loads of travelling involved.

"That can take its toll on players before games, but right now that is just the way it has to be."

Having taken his time to settle into his new environment, he insisted he is not desperate to rush home and is keen to continue the project he has started.

"The people have been really friendly and I can't ask for any more," he said. "It was a real culture shock when I came over at first, but I have got used to it.

"The people here always seem happy with their lot. They have been brilliant with me and I am really enjoying my stint here.

"If I can get results and do well then, like every other job, I could be here for a while. If things go wrong, who knows? But I am not desperate to get back to the UK. I am happy here and enjoy what I am doing." Scots D-day showdown won't be a TV hit

By Alison McConnell WORLD Cup fever may have gripped Scotland ahead of this weekend's showdown against Holland - but Bobby Williamson's patriotic pulse won't beat any faster.

He is resigned to being unable to catch the Group Nine qualifier. He said: "I'd be amazed if the Scotland game is shown. Any matches on TV tend to be a huge European one or ones with African teams."

Williamson is more concerned with the excellent progress his team is making under his tutelage. He added: "We have won our last eight games and drawn one and so we are moving in the right direction.

"When I took over we lost the first game 3-1, but I never knew the players and they didn't know me. I was confident that I could turn things around. That first defeat put paid to any hopes of qualifying for the African Nations' Cup, but I feel that we have improved a lot.

"Uganda haven't qualified for the ANC since 1978, but we are making progress and I am relishing a chapter in my career that is so different to anything I have known before."