Kobs face tough test
Feb 06, 2007
ON the basis that you reap what you sow, Kobs’ hopes of an Olympics dream-start in Potchefstroom today seem posed to be swept by blast of reality.<br>The truth could dawn on coach Laszlo Csaba’s outfit against South Africa that unless you are organised, nothing will spare the blushes.
By Fred Kaweesi
OlympicS qualifier
Today, Johannesburg
S. Africa (Amaglug-glug)
v Uganda (Kobs),
9.30pm, on SABC
ON the basis that you reap what you sow, Kobs’ hopes of an Olympics dream-start in Potchefstroom today seem posed to be swept by blast of reality.
The truth could dawn on coach Laszlo Csaba’s outfit against South Africa that unless you are organised, nothing will spare the blushes.
Csaba’s bemused face and astonishing remarks hours before departure yesterday summed it all. “Do not ask me for a win.â€
Kobs’ preparations have, aside from being limited to fitness sessions, been punctuated with relentless disorganisation that ranged from passport and visa problems to a delayed flight schedule.
“I have coached for 20 years but I have never seen this. This is amateur,†Csaba stressed.
The German will need all his motivation powers to rouse a Kobs side hoping to rid itself of the trauma of a preliminary round exit.
Kobs’ potential for a decent result, chaos notwithstanding, remains undoubted.
South Africa-based custodian Denis Onyango should guarantee safety behind a defence with wobbly wing-backs David Kyobe and Julius Mulindwa.
Csaba resolved his team’s midfield contentions by opting for the verve and form of Mike Aziira, while SC Villa’s Augustine Nsumba will start at the apex of the team’s diamond.
Pushing Nsumba to the front, tempering his own creative instincts is a draft measure but one that the pocket-sized player will patently enjoy.
Arthur Ssemazi and Anthony Bongole have bonded well playing off the diamond, and should enjoy their piston style of shuttling up and back to provide cover.
In attack, Moses Aduni and Geoffrey Massa are strong characters, gifted footballers, who will doubtlessly impose themselves on the hosts.
In 2003, Kobs’ were bundled out of the qualifiers in the group stages after defeats to Morocco, Ethiopia and Angola.
In the 1999 All Africa Games, Kobs held the Amaglug-glug to a goalless draw before losing 1-0 in the third-place play-off.
Meanwhile, Norman Katende adds that soccer governing body president, Lawrence Mulindwa, has defended the decision of the Kobs departing a day to the qualifier game.
Mulindwa said that the date, set a month ago, was aimed at avoiding players agents’ interruption of the youngsters concentration.
“We set the date a month ago. Only that we had to change the hour of the flight due to unavoidable circumstances. We wanted to spend as much less time there as possible to avoid any external interruptions,†said Mulindwa yesterday.
“They can confuse them with promises of contracts which at the end make them lose their concentration. It is a four hour flight and the match will be played at night. They will surely have recovered.â€
OlympicS qualifier
Today, Johannesburg
S. Africa (Amaglug-glug)
v Uganda (Kobs),
9.30pm, on SABC
ON the basis that you reap what you sow, Kobs’ hopes of an Olympics dream-start in Potchefstroom today seem posed to be swept by blast of reality.
The truth could dawn on coach Laszlo Csaba’s outfit against South Africa that unless you are organised, nothing will spare the blushes.
Csaba’s bemused face and astonishing remarks hours before departure yesterday summed it all. “Do not ask me for a win.â€
Kobs’ preparations have, aside from being limited to fitness sessions, been punctuated with relentless disorganisation that ranged from passport and visa problems to a delayed flight schedule.
“I have coached for 20 years but I have never seen this. This is amateur,†Csaba stressed.
The German will need all his motivation powers to rouse a Kobs side hoping to rid itself of the trauma of a preliminary round exit.
Kobs’ potential for a decent result, chaos notwithstanding, remains undoubted.
South Africa-based custodian Denis Onyango should guarantee safety behind a defence with wobbly wing-backs David Kyobe and Julius Mulindwa.
Csaba resolved his team’s midfield contentions by opting for the verve and form of Mike Aziira, while SC Villa’s Augustine Nsumba will start at the apex of the team’s diamond.
Pushing Nsumba to the front, tempering his own creative instincts is a draft measure but one that the pocket-sized player will patently enjoy.
Arthur Ssemazi and Anthony Bongole have bonded well playing off the diamond, and should enjoy their piston style of shuttling up and back to provide cover.
In attack, Moses Aduni and Geoffrey Massa are strong characters, gifted footballers, who will doubtlessly impose themselves on the hosts.
In 2003, Kobs’ were bundled out of the qualifiers in the group stages after defeats to Morocco, Ethiopia and Angola.
In the 1999 All Africa Games, Kobs held the Amaglug-glug to a goalless draw before losing 1-0 in the third-place play-off.
Meanwhile, Norman Katende adds that soccer governing body president, Lawrence Mulindwa, has defended the decision of the Kobs departing a day to the qualifier game.
Mulindwa said that the date, set a month ago, was aimed at avoiding players agents’ interruption of the youngsters concentration.
“We set the date a month ago. Only that we had to change the hour of the flight due to unavoidable circumstances. We wanted to spend as much less time there as possible to avoid any external interruptions,†said Mulindwa yesterday.
“They can confuse them with promises of contracts which at the end make them lose their concentration. It is a four hour flight and the match will be played at night. They will surely have recovered.â€