Veteran Polly Ouma says Cranes need cover at the back

Former Uganda Cranes captain and coach, Polly Ouma had a chat with New Vision sports writer James Bakama and said for Bobby Williamson's side to ensure better chances of a win against Zambia, there  must always be someone covering at the back.

By Polly Ouma

There is a big difference between the physique of players in the Zambian teams today and the ones we competed against in the seventies. The Zambians in our time were largely giants.

The current Chipolopolo side to the contrary is dominated by small and averagely built players. These players make up for their inadequacies in size with speed and skill. Versatile is perhaps the best word to describe the Zambians.

They are quick on the ball. Their midfield to striking line inter play is also superb. We shouldn’t give them space. What we need to do on October 13 is to close them out. It will be to our peril if we grant them the freedom to pass that ball around.

Our defence played well in Zambia save for a few lapses. In one of these, Chris Katongo scored while in another in the dying minutes, James Chamanga almost punished us.

Chamanga got our defence standing in a straight line. He only had to beat one person to come face-to-face with goalkeeper Dennis Onyango. Thank God Onyango was alert.

We need cover at the back

There must always be a someone covering at the back. During our time defenders like Jimmy Kirunda, Sam Musenze and Ahmed Doka were masters of such coverage.

As for our attack, teams with ball players like Zambia dread opponents who also take the game to them. In our time, I would drop to the wing then ask for the ball. On receiving the ball, I would head direct to the defenders and dribble past before firing at goal.

Defenders dread strikers who take the ball to them. But of course this takes a lot of skill. Phillip Omondi, Jackson Mayanja and Stephen Bogere also had this quality.

Unfortunately today there is a lot of purposeless clearance of balls. To outwit a team like Zambia we need to have the ability of stringing as many passes as possible while advancing.

This lack of consistence or sustained action is not only limited to the players. The fans are no different. Ugandans only cheer in goal scoring opportunities.

If we are to morale boost our team and also rattle the opponents’ nerves, the cheering must be constant.

It is not late for we the fans to also start training.