Uganda Cranes take on Zanzibar next
Jan 03, 2009
NAMBOOLE Stadium has seen incredible Cranes’ results before, but few, if any, as significantly historic as Uganda’s opportunistic 4-0 win over archrivals Rwanda on Thursday night.
CECAFA RESULTS
Uganda 4 Rwanda 0
Somalia 0 Zanzibar 2
Today, At Nakivubo
Uganda v Zanzibar 4pm
Somalia v Tanzania 1.30
By Fred Kaweesi
NAMBOOLE Stadium has seen incredible Cranes’ results before, but few, if any, as significantly historic as Uganda’s opportunistic 4-0 win over archrivals Rwanda on Thursday night.
Tony Mawejje, Simeon Masaba, Brian Umony and Steven Bengo were the director-generals of the momentous show with the goals that helped Uganda administer a winning start to their CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup campaign.
And as hard as the team’s head coach Bobby Williamson tried to look impassive, he could not prevent a smile flickering across his lips to greet the result that served as thorough revenge of recent defeats suffered at the hands of Rwanda.
“We have given ourselves a good start. But we have a long way to go,†he said, somewhat insinuating that the result is not in any way meant to mean that Cranes’ march to the championship finals would be as straight-forward.
The truth is, Mawejje’s well struck 30-yard free-kick, Masaba’s penalty conversion after Caesar Okhuti had been felled, Umony’s well-placed header and Bengo’s flamboyant finish at the death had not been a true reflection of the team’s abilities.
If the fixture proved anything, it was that Cranes will have to transform their unproductive play and deploy players in their right positions to survive the intensity of serious opposition.
Cranes’ next group A opponents Zanzibar at Nakivubo Stadium today might not offer as much a threat but the home side will certainly be exposed against a better organized outfit like Tanzania if Cranes coaching staff maintain the shape of the team’s midfield cards.
To begin with, whatever role Mawejje had to play on the left-side of midfield was evidently non-existent. He was average, to say the least. True, he had a wonder-strike for the opener, but struggled in his role as an anchor.
His first touch on the turn often let him down, while Patrick Ochan has shown over the years that he can only serve best pivoting in a free role or breaking through his accustomed role in the ‘hole’. For his all their industry, neither Ochan nor Owen Kasule are tailor-made for the holding role, lacking that central penetrative instinct such an occasion demanded.
Cranes earned the right to look pleased with them selves, but if they read too much into the result, the wheels will come off soon.
There will be no room for complacency against Zanzibar. Bobby may argue it is justified to be cautious, but sometimes you can be too cautious and play straight into the hands of the opposition.
Uganda 4 Rwanda 0
Somalia 0 Zanzibar 2
Today, At Nakivubo
Uganda v Zanzibar 4pm
Somalia v Tanzania 1.30
By Fred Kaweesi
NAMBOOLE Stadium has seen incredible Cranes’ results before, but few, if any, as significantly historic as Uganda’s opportunistic 4-0 win over archrivals Rwanda on Thursday night.
Tony Mawejje, Simeon Masaba, Brian Umony and Steven Bengo were the director-generals of the momentous show with the goals that helped Uganda administer a winning start to their CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup campaign.
And as hard as the team’s head coach Bobby Williamson tried to look impassive, he could not prevent a smile flickering across his lips to greet the result that served as thorough revenge of recent defeats suffered at the hands of Rwanda.
“We have given ourselves a good start. But we have a long way to go,†he said, somewhat insinuating that the result is not in any way meant to mean that Cranes’ march to the championship finals would be as straight-forward.
The truth is, Mawejje’s well struck 30-yard free-kick, Masaba’s penalty conversion after Caesar Okhuti had been felled, Umony’s well-placed header and Bengo’s flamboyant finish at the death had not been a true reflection of the team’s abilities.
If the fixture proved anything, it was that Cranes will have to transform their unproductive play and deploy players in their right positions to survive the intensity of serious opposition.
Cranes’ next group A opponents Zanzibar at Nakivubo Stadium today might not offer as much a threat but the home side will certainly be exposed against a better organized outfit like Tanzania if Cranes coaching staff maintain the shape of the team’s midfield cards.
To begin with, whatever role Mawejje had to play on the left-side of midfield was evidently non-existent. He was average, to say the least. True, he had a wonder-strike for the opener, but struggled in his role as an anchor.
His first touch on the turn often let him down, while Patrick Ochan has shown over the years that he can only serve best pivoting in a free role or breaking through his accustomed role in the ‘hole’. For his all their industry, neither Ochan nor Owen Kasule are tailor-made for the holding role, lacking that central penetrative instinct such an occasion demanded.
Cranes earned the right to look pleased with them selves, but if they read too much into the result, the wheels will come off soon.
There will be no room for complacency against Zanzibar. Bobby may argue it is justified to be cautious, but sometimes you can be too cautious and play straight into the hands of the opposition.