Key Cranes players fit for Angola game
Jun 16, 2008
CRANES head coach Laszlo does not know whether to smile or cry. The German was left in two minds yesterday after watching the previously injured attacking pair of Eugene Sepuya and Geoffrey Massa complete their first session without trouble. Csaba however struggled to contend with the fact that reve
Fred Kaweesi
Sunday
Angola v Uganda 5.30pm
CRANES head coach Laszlo does not know whether to smile or cry.
The German was left in two minds yesterday after watching the previously injured attacking pair of Eugene Sepuya and Geoffrey Massa complete their first session without trouble. Csaba however struggled to contend with the fact that revelation Caesar Okhuti would have to sit out his second consecutive game against Angola.
“I am not sure whether he (Okhuti) will travel with us,†a disappointed Csaba said. The Ediofe Hills forward sustained a back injury after colliding with teammate David Obua in training last week.
“It’s going to be tough for me to travel. I still feel pain,†Okhuti disclosed. The fast-paced striker underwent a scan, and sadly, the results weren’t positive.
“It is a stiff muscle on the hip. He will undergo physiotherapy treatment for over a week, with close assessing,†Cranes team doctor Ronald Kisolo explained.
In Okhuti’s absence, Serbia-based striker Sepuya will still lead the attack line, with South Africa-based forward Massa in contention for a starting place as a support striker.
Sepuya, who injured his left thigh muscle during Cranes’ historic 3-1 win over Angola and had to be substituted, looked comfortable with the ball in training while Massa, who had been struggling to recover from a similar injury, took part in his first physical session. He exhibited a glimpse of his impressive potential.
“I feel fine and that is why I have decided to train. I really want to start playing,†Massa stated.
Attack
Csaba has often stuck to a 4-4-2 formation but that will certainly have to change to a 4-5-1 in Luanda. That, under normal circumstances would have Sepuya fixed as a lone striker, with a five-man congested midfield. Sepuya, with two goals to his name so far, has excelled as a target man.
“I pulled a muscle while trying to challenge for a lose ball but had two injections yesterday (Sunday) and should be fit for the game on Sunday,†Sepuya said.
Cranes sessions yesterday were restricted to light-work, with special physical training emphasis placed on having the reserve players that didn’t make the weekend game.
Released players
Five other charges that don’t stand a chance of being fielded on Sunday were released but will regroup with the rest of the team ahead of the qualifiers in September and October.
The Foreign-based duo of Jimmy Kidega and Patrick Ochan were the most prominent omissions on the list. Musa Doka, Owen Kasule and Sam Senoga are the others.
The Cranes are attempting to reach the prestigious World Cup for the first time in history and Nations Cup for the first time since 1978.
Key battles: Angola v Uganda
Csaba v Goncalves
SINCE taking over as coach of Angola in 2003, Coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has fast-established himself as a national hero. For more than a decade, the 48-year-old has poured his blood, sweat and tears into Angola football, and did more of that against the Uganda Cranes on Saturday.
Yet despite being called the “Professor†and “Miracle Manâ€, Goncalves, could still do little to emulate his labels and rescue his hapless side from a humiliating defeat. 1-0 it is at half-time for his counterpart Laszlo Csaba. Throughout the game, the German excelled in choosing the right tactics, selecting the right players, getting the best performance out of them, and making tactical adjustments.
Csaba will however have to emulate that in Luanda to fully assume status as a super star.
Standings P W D L F A Pts
Angola 3 2 0 1 6 4 6
Benin 3 2 0 1 6 5 6
Uganda 3 2 0 1 5 5 6
Niger 3 0 0 3 2 5 0
Sunday
Angola v Uganda 5.30pm
CRANES head coach Laszlo does not know whether to smile or cry.
The German was left in two minds yesterday after watching the previously injured attacking pair of Eugene Sepuya and Geoffrey Massa complete their first session without trouble. Csaba however struggled to contend with the fact that revelation Caesar Okhuti would have to sit out his second consecutive game against Angola.
“I am not sure whether he (Okhuti) will travel with us,†a disappointed Csaba said. The Ediofe Hills forward sustained a back injury after colliding with teammate David Obua in training last week.
“It’s going to be tough for me to travel. I still feel pain,†Okhuti disclosed. The fast-paced striker underwent a scan, and sadly, the results weren’t positive.
“It is a stiff muscle on the hip. He will undergo physiotherapy treatment for over a week, with close assessing,†Cranes team doctor Ronald Kisolo explained.
In Okhuti’s absence, Serbia-based striker Sepuya will still lead the attack line, with South Africa-based forward Massa in contention for a starting place as a support striker.
Sepuya, who injured his left thigh muscle during Cranes’ historic 3-1 win over Angola and had to be substituted, looked comfortable with the ball in training while Massa, who had been struggling to recover from a similar injury, took part in his first physical session. He exhibited a glimpse of his impressive potential.
“I feel fine and that is why I have decided to train. I really want to start playing,†Massa stated.
Attack
Csaba has often stuck to a 4-4-2 formation but that will certainly have to change to a 4-5-1 in Luanda. That, under normal circumstances would have Sepuya fixed as a lone striker, with a five-man congested midfield. Sepuya, with two goals to his name so far, has excelled as a target man.
“I pulled a muscle while trying to challenge for a lose ball but had two injections yesterday (Sunday) and should be fit for the game on Sunday,†Sepuya said.
Cranes sessions yesterday were restricted to light-work, with special physical training emphasis placed on having the reserve players that didn’t make the weekend game.
Released players
Five other charges that don’t stand a chance of being fielded on Sunday were released but will regroup with the rest of the team ahead of the qualifiers in September and October.
The Foreign-based duo of Jimmy Kidega and Patrick Ochan were the most prominent omissions on the list. Musa Doka, Owen Kasule and Sam Senoga are the others.
The Cranes are attempting to reach the prestigious World Cup for the first time in history and Nations Cup for the first time since 1978.
Key battles: Angola v Uganda
Csaba v Goncalves
SINCE taking over as coach of Angola in 2003, Coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has fast-established himself as a national hero. For more than a decade, the 48-year-old has poured his blood, sweat and tears into Angola football, and did more of that against the Uganda Cranes on Saturday.
Yet despite being called the “Professor†and “Miracle Manâ€, Goncalves, could still do little to emulate his labels and rescue his hapless side from a humiliating defeat. 1-0 it is at half-time for his counterpart Laszlo Csaba. Throughout the game, the German excelled in choosing the right tactics, selecting the right players, getting the best performance out of them, and making tactical adjustments.
Csaba will however have to emulate that in Luanda to fully assume status as a super star.
Standings P W D L F A Pts
Angola 3 2 0 1 6 4 6
Benin 3 2 0 1 6 5 6
Uganda 3 2 0 1 5 5 6
Niger 3 0 0 3 2 5 0