By James Bakama and Fred Kaweesi

AFRICA NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
March 27
Uganda v Burundi

ALL Cranes home matches will this season be played at Namboole. The Cranes previously had their Africa Nations Championship home games at Nakivubo. FUFA’s technical committee however recently ruled that all senior national team matches must be in the 40,202 seater stadium.

The decision takes effect with the March 27, 2010 Uganda versus Burundi Africa Nations Championship return leg. The two sides drew 1-1 in the first leg in Burundi on Sunday.

“The national coach finds Namboole very convenient,” explained FUFA technical director Asuman Lubowa, adding that the stadium also meets international standards.

Meanwhile FUFA will launch the Cranes 2012 Nations Cup campaign on April 10. The launch will be preceded by a conference at Ivy’s Hotel, Wakaliga on Saturday in which Uganda’s previous qualifiers will be reviewed and a strategy for the 2012 qualification campaign made.

The conference will involve submissions from FUFA’s marketing and sponsorship, technical, media, finance and protocol committees. “We shall review the past qualifiers then lay a strategy that will be presented at the launch,” explained FUFA publicist Rogers Mulindwa.

On the evidence of their previous run-outs, the Cranes have mastered the ability to build play from the back, more so with a high level of consistency. But equally demanding is the need to keep clean sheets, that has not been the case in the last two matches.

The Cranes crafted a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Africa Nations Championship in Bujumbura last weekend. Although it was a decent result, it is the need to shut-out the opposition that will particularly concern coach Robert ‘Bobby’ Williamson ahead of the return leg next week.

The Burundi result had come off an earlier 3-2 friendly win over Tanzania in Mwanza a fortnight ago. “Isaac (Isinde) and Edward (Ssali) have done a good job so far that only needs improving in a few areas,” Williamson stated.

When the Scot regroups his charges today, among the issues on agenda will be denying Burundi an away goal. “We will just have to be more organised. The goal we conceded in Bujumbura was the first in open play; the two against Tanzania were from set-pieces. But we know what we have to do, which is important,” Williamson added.

Although Simeon Masaba has served Cranes well at right-back, Williamson will also need to identify a cover for the wing-back.