Cranes now plot CECAFA hat-trick
Oct 10, 2010
WITH Uganda’s status as Group J leaders firmly preserved following that priceless away point plundered from Nairobi, Cranes technical team will now shift strategy to assembling a CECAFA and Nations Championship winning team.
Selected results
Kenya 0 Uganda 0
NATIONS CUP QUALIFIERS
Angola 1 Guinea 0
Tanzania 0 Morocco 1
Rwanda 0Benin 3
Burundi 0 Ivory Coast1
Group J
P W D L F A Pts
Uganda 2 1 1 0 3 0 4
G Bissau 2 1 0 1 1 1 3
Angola 2 1 0 1 1 3 3
Kenya 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
By Fred Kaweesi in Nairobi
WITH Uganda’s status as Group J leaders firmly preserved following that priceless away point plundered from Nairobi, Cranes technical team will now shift strategy to assembling a CECAFA and Nations Championship winning team.
On Saturday, the Cranes masterminded a massive away result after holding the Harambee Stars to a goalless draw in the nerve and tension-filled derby at Nyayo Stadium.
Because of the commanding record Uganda holds over Kenya in previous meetings, Saturday’s derby was fast-transformed into a game for no fainthearted for the simple reason that such games are rarely decided on football grounds.
Emotions tend to spill over. The kind of emotions that helped Rwanda and Algeria to historic 1-0 wins over their derby opponents Uganda in 2003 and Egypt during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. “Under the circumstances, it was a good result for us to build on,†Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya stated.
With Angola beating Guinea 1-0 in the other game, the result meant Uganda would remain table leaders until March next year when the Cranes will resume their 2012 Nations Cup qualifying campaign away to unpredictable Guinea Bissau.
At the moment, all priorities will shift to the CECAFA tournament that starts in Tanzania next month – a regional championship that should ideally prepare the Cranes side that will compete for honours in the CHAN tournament due in Sudan early next year. “We have just finished the Kenyan game. We (coach and technical team) will meet soon to draw up a plan for the next tournament,†Cranes coach Bobby Williamson hinted on arrival from Nairobi yesterday.
The Scot will challenge all his local-based players to strive and play their way into the CHAN tournament with resolute performances in this year’s CECAFA event that has also attracted African giants Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
“The visiting teams will surely spice our tournament,†CECAFA Nicholas Musonye stated last week.
US$450,000 (sh1b) has been injected into the tournament that will run from November 27th to December 11.
Kenya 0 Uganda 0
NATIONS CUP QUALIFIERS
Angola 1 Guinea 0
Tanzania 0 Morocco 1
Rwanda 0Benin 3
Burundi 0 Ivory Coast1
Group J
P W D L F A Pts
Uganda 2 1 1 0 3 0 4
G Bissau 2 1 0 1 1 1 3
Angola 2 1 0 1 1 3 3
Kenya 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
By Fred Kaweesi in Nairobi
WITH Uganda’s status as Group J leaders firmly preserved following that priceless away point plundered from Nairobi, Cranes technical team will now shift strategy to assembling a CECAFA and Nations Championship winning team.
On Saturday, the Cranes masterminded a massive away result after holding the Harambee Stars to a goalless draw in the nerve and tension-filled derby at Nyayo Stadium.
Because of the commanding record Uganda holds over Kenya in previous meetings, Saturday’s derby was fast-transformed into a game for no fainthearted for the simple reason that such games are rarely decided on football grounds.
Emotions tend to spill over. The kind of emotions that helped Rwanda and Algeria to historic 1-0 wins over their derby opponents Uganda in 2003 and Egypt during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. “Under the circumstances, it was a good result for us to build on,†Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya stated.
With Angola beating Guinea 1-0 in the other game, the result meant Uganda would remain table leaders until March next year when the Cranes will resume their 2012 Nations Cup qualifying campaign away to unpredictable Guinea Bissau.
At the moment, all priorities will shift to the CECAFA tournament that starts in Tanzania next month – a regional championship that should ideally prepare the Cranes side that will compete for honours in the CHAN tournament due in Sudan early next year. “We have just finished the Kenyan game. We (coach and technical team) will meet soon to draw up a plan for the next tournament,†Cranes coach Bobby Williamson hinted on arrival from Nairobi yesterday.
The Scot will challenge all his local-based players to strive and play their way into the CHAN tournament with resolute performances in this year’s CECAFA event that has also attracted African giants Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
“The visiting teams will surely spice our tournament,†CECAFA Nicholas Musonye stated last week.
US$450,000 (sh1b) has been injected into the tournament that will run from November 27th to December 11.