No foul play

FUFA sort feeding worries
Dhaira, Umony left behind

Ugandan teams have over the years accused their various hosts of foul play. Aside from complaints over poor accommodation and feeding, there have been accusations of being kept at airport lobbies for long.

But when Cranes set foot in Luanda this morning, such under­hand tactics will be the least of concerns ahead of Sunday’s explosive 2014 World Cup qualifier against Angola.

“I have secured a very decent hotel (Mana-Lu Hotel). The meals are sorted and the reception has been good. The Angola of­ficials have been helpful,” FUFA delegate Sam Mpima told New Vision.

Mpima arrived in Luanda on Tuesday and had since been pre-occupied design­ing a comprehensive strategy that would coun­ter any foul tricks the hosts would be tempted to deploy in the build-up to a game both sides will be desperate to win.

With all the off-pitch concerns resolved, the onus is now on coach Bobby Wil­liamson to identify the right strategy and ideal first 11 that will execute the plan in front of a 50,000 capacity crowd at the 11 de Novembro Stadium.

Cranes have always won their first fixtures. They have always won their home fixtures.

For the first time in over a decade, their World Cup cam­paign starts away from home, at a place of no faint hearts. If Cranes’ performance in Luanda last September proved one thing, it was that Cranes must decide on a strategy and stick to it.

Last year, they decided on a defensive strategy that worked well for the first 45 minutes. However, Williamson changed to a more offensive strategy in the second half that invited Angola and forced Uganda into several errors. When the hosts took the lead, Cranes never recovered.

On Sunday, Cranes will need to throw bodies upfront, pressurize Angola and restrict them into their own half to guarantee a result.

It’s a difficult but achiev­able task considering the 18 cards available for this away assignment.

How will Cranes line-up on Sunday?
As usual, Denis Onyango will occupy Cranes goal posts, although there are concerns as to whether Hamza Mu­wonge will be the best possi­ble candidate on the bench as Abbey Dhaira was left behind for unclear reasons.

At the back, Godfrey Walusimbi and Simeon Ma­saba are expected to occupy the two full-back positions with Henry Kalungi fielded in the liberal role that Ibrahim Sekagya served in the side in previous campaigns.

In training, Johnston Ba­goole has somewhat justified why he could start ahead of Patrick Ochan as Tony Mawe­jje’s partner in the team’s conventional midfield.
Sweden-based midfielder Martin Mutumba will start on the left.

Angola’s back-four will find him, central strikers Emma Okwi and Mike Sserumaga and whoever Williamson choses on the right a handful.

Ideally, Wagaluka would be the preferred choice for such an away game as Moses Oloya does not offer much defensively. Masaba’s legs are a yard slower and will need support to contain the rampant Djalma Campos.

Cranes team in Luanda:
D.Onyango, S.Masaba, G.Walusimbi, A.Mwesigwa, H.Kalungi, J.Bagoole, D.Wagaluka, T.Mawejje, E.Okwi, M.Sserumaga, M.Mutumba, H.Muwonge, D.Iguma, F.Kizito, M.Oloya, H.Wasswa, H.Kavuma, P.Ochan.