Omony or Onyango: Who to start?

By Fred Kaweesi and Swalley Kenyi

When Cranes regroup for their opening 2014 World Cup qualifier against Angola early next week, goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba will have a major brainteaser to resolve.

The vocal tactician will spend the next few days pondering whether to consider his choices from match-fit goalkeepers Posnet Omony and Abbey Dhaira or retain his first choice Denis Onyango, who served him so well before but has virtually not played any competitive game at club level this season.

Kajoba will particularly be tasked to justify why Onyango should be considered ahead of Omony, whose form has inspired South African club Black Leopards to the money brackets of the CAF Confederations Cup.

Omony was the most prominent re-inclusion in the Cranes’ 30-man squad assembled for the trip to Luanda.

“I have often automatically fielded Onyango because of the short times we have had to train. Now that we have quite some time, the rest will be given a chance to compete. Although I should mention, Onyango is still my choice,” Kajoba told New Vision online Wednesday.

Onyango has not started for Sundowns since his move last year, not even against hapless opposition such as Powerlines, who conceded 24 goals in their Nedbank fixture a month ago.

To the contrary, Omony has started almost all of Leopards matches in the league and Confederations Cup. “He (Onyango) has not played at Sundowns but experience is extremely vital. He has nothing to prove. All that matters is his fitness.”

Of course Onyango’s size and agility have made him hard to beat before, and has made Cranes’ defence, at times, impenetrable, but will he be mentally prepared to inspire Cranes on June 2?

Whether Kajoba opts for Onyango or Omony will be a decision that will, according to him not be dependent on more than the simple factors of form and fitness.

He will have a look at the four goalkeepers, Dhaira and Hamza Muwonge the others, personally and decide whether to join a group of dwindling people that believe gambling on Onyango is the right decision to go.

Cranes coach Bobby Williamson pointed that he summoned a huge squad bearing in mind the three gruelling qualifiers against Angola, Senegal and Congo Brazzaville in the month of June.

The Scot however excluded strikers Geoffrey Sserunkuuma, Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza and midfielder Owen Kasule.

“We cannot have everybody on the squad. I have six strikers on the squad and Owen has not been playing,” Williamson explained at the weekly FUFA press conference Wednesday.

Surprisingly, Uganda Super League high flyers Express FC have no player on the team that starts training on May 21.

The Squad: P.Omwony, D.Onyango, A.Dhaira, H.Muwonge,S.Masaba,D.Iguma, I.Isinde, H.Kalungi, G.Walusimbi, H.Wasswa,J.Ochaya,A.Mwesigwa, J.Owino, H.Kavuma, E.Ssali, M.Serumaga,T.Mawejje, M.Mudde,P.Ochan, M.Kayongo, D.Wagaluka, M.Oloya,S.Matovu, E.Okwi, F.Kizito, B.Umony, G.Massa, C.Okhuti, M.Mutyaba, R.Ssentongo.