Micho faces major fitness concerns

By Fred Kaweesi

International friendly

August 14

Egypt v Uganda

World Cup qualifier

September 7

Senegal v Uganda

ALL footballers that have successfully made it to the very top in professional football will tell you that accomplishing such heights demands more than just the obvious basics like routine training.

That, there is also a restricted extent talent can play a part. That instead, sacrifice and self-discipline play a huge part.

Unfortunately, this is where a majority of Ugandan footballers have fallen short.

When the Cranes upstaged Tanzanian with a 4-1 aggregate victory to guarantee a place at the Africa Nations Championship finals due in South Africa next year, the players were expected to engage higher gears in preparation for the championship.

They were expected to work harder because there was not only going to be stiff competition for places in the South Africa-bound team but that the CHAN finals were supposed to be deemed a golden opportunity of redeeming all pride shattered in the previous campaign.

Instead, what a majority of the CHAN squad members have decided to do is ‘party’ since their remarkable achievement two weeks ago.

According to a survey conducted by New Vision Sport at the end of last week, with the exception of Brian Majwega, a majority of the players have never reported for training at their respective local clubs.

Which means, coach Micho Sredojevic will have serious fitness issues to contend with when the Cranes regroup later this week for the highprofile friendly against Egypt on August 14.

When the Serbian was asked if he was aware of the prevailing situation, he said: “I expect the players to know what chances they have before them. This is their moment to succeed in life and sacrifice a lot for their nation.”

“I will do everything to have the best possible team and this means the players too will have to prove they are good enough to be part of my plans.

“When we regroup, I will check each player’s fitness levels before travelling next week. I will take fit players and not tourists,” he warned.

On the evidence of Cranes’ performances over the twoleg play-off against Tanzania, the likes of Savio Kabugo, Richard Kasagga, Majwega, Frank Kalanda, Joseph Mpande, Nicholas Wadada and Said Kyeyune are likely to be considered for selection in the senior Cranes squad. 

There is enough reason as to why Micho indeed needs to assemble a fit side for the game against Egypt.

The Pharaohs are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1990 following their progress to the play-offs due in October and November as Group G winners.

Under former US head coach Bob Bradley, the Pharaohs have looked solid and a new documentary, “American Pharaoh: Bob Bradley & the Egyptian Soccer Team.” has been filmed and released by Soura Films.

Egypt is one of only two countries that has so far gone undefeated in World Cup qualifying (the Netherlands is the other) and under Bradley’s tutelage, Mohamed Salah, a 20-year-old striker whom Bradley called “the future of Egyptian soccer,” has scored 15 goals in his last 21 games for Egypt.