Uganda Cranes battle Angola
Sep 04, 2010
‘YOU are a world class side. I have never doubted your abilities. You simply need to stay calm and focused to achieve a winning start’
By Fred Kaweesi
‘YOU are a world class side. I have never doubted your abilities. You simply need to stay calm and focused to achieve a winning start’
That will be Coach Bobby Williamson’s precise pre-match message in the dressing room before unleashing his multi-talented Cranes’ side for the uncharted journey of 2012 Nations Cup qualification that sets out with a potential home fixture against Angola today.
The talk has been done, promises been made and certainly the time Uganda’s best ever assembly of talent has been waiting for has come for it to justify its all-star status.
A win will automatically elevate Uganda to the summit of group ten; at least for the next few hours before group opponents Kenya engage Guinea Bissau later in the day.
Group leaders qualify automatically and are joined by the two best runners’ ups.
Uganda, ranked (69th) 18 places above Angola (87) thankfully does build something of a fortress at home. Victories over Ghana and Nigeria in preceding years bear testimony to this.
On a cool afternoon when every one will be on the edge of their seats, Cranes players will be under the strictest of orders to perform.
At the ultra modern complex Namboole, Cranes’ togetherness with colleagues always making space to help out the other will be extremely fundamental.
Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya and experienced campaigners such as David Obua plan to shake each of their junior teammates hands by the hand, and where necessary offer words of encouragement.
“We will need to fight together. We have a fantastic group here that is capable of doing a good job. We just hope the fans give us that support, not in bits but for 90 minutes,†Sekagya stated.
The danger Angola’s ranks will stem from former Manchester United striker Contreiras Manucho, Djalma Campos, Amaral Gilberto and attacking right-back Alberto Mabina.
Cranes’ back-four of Simeon Masaba, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andrew Mwesigwa and Sekagya will have to deliver their best performances yet to contain the four.
Williamson will go with a 4-3-3 formation that turns to a 4-5-1 without possession and 4-4-2 occasionally but with Mike Sserumagga starting just behind the lone front-man Geoffrey Massa.
If surprise inclusion Mude Musa and Tony Mawejje can thwart the visitors’ aerial and physical game, then the attacking midfielders Obua, Sserumagga and Kayizzi should provide the necessary creativity for Massa. Good luck boys!
‘YOU are a world class side. I have never doubted your abilities. You simply need to stay calm and focused to achieve a winning start’
That will be Coach Bobby Williamson’s precise pre-match message in the dressing room before unleashing his multi-talented Cranes’ side for the uncharted journey of 2012 Nations Cup qualification that sets out with a potential home fixture against Angola today.
The talk has been done, promises been made and certainly the time Uganda’s best ever assembly of talent has been waiting for has come for it to justify its all-star status.
A win will automatically elevate Uganda to the summit of group ten; at least for the next few hours before group opponents Kenya engage Guinea Bissau later in the day.
Group leaders qualify automatically and are joined by the two best runners’ ups.
Uganda, ranked (69th) 18 places above Angola (87) thankfully does build something of a fortress at home. Victories over Ghana and Nigeria in preceding years bear testimony to this.
On a cool afternoon when every one will be on the edge of their seats, Cranes players will be under the strictest of orders to perform.
At the ultra modern complex Namboole, Cranes’ togetherness with colleagues always making space to help out the other will be extremely fundamental.
Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya and experienced campaigners such as David Obua plan to shake each of their junior teammates hands by the hand, and where necessary offer words of encouragement.
“We will need to fight together. We have a fantastic group here that is capable of doing a good job. We just hope the fans give us that support, not in bits but for 90 minutes,†Sekagya stated.
The danger Angola’s ranks will stem from former Manchester United striker Contreiras Manucho, Djalma Campos, Amaral Gilberto and attacking right-back Alberto Mabina.
Cranes’ back-four of Simeon Masaba, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andrew Mwesigwa and Sekagya will have to deliver their best performances yet to contain the four.
Williamson will go with a 4-3-3 formation that turns to a 4-5-1 without possession and 4-4-2 occasionally but with Mike Sserumagga starting just behind the lone front-man Geoffrey Massa.
If surprise inclusion Mude Musa and Tony Mawejje can thwart the visitors’ aerial and physical game, then the attacking midfielders Obua, Sserumagga and Kayizzi should provide the necessary creativity for Massa. Good luck boys!