Gyan worried about Uganda Cranes
Nov 13, 2014
When the stakes are high, every football side would want to have its best artillery available for that crucial fixture.
By Fred Kaweesi
Nations Cup qualifier
Saturday, 4pm, SS7
Uganda v Ghana
November 19
Guinea v Uganda
When the stakes are high, every football side would want to have its best artillery available for that crucial fixture.
And while Cranes are sweating over the fitness of Denis Onyango and Yunus Ssentamu, their Black Stars counterparts can do nothing about the absence of first team stars Gyan Asamoah, Kwadwo Asamaoh and Jordan Ayew.
The situation is particularly disturbing for Black Stars player Gyan, who on the evidence of previous meetings with the Cranes does not need reminding of the sort of challenge that awaits his depleted side at Namboole Stadium on Saturday.
“I believe in the boys, I believe in the Black Stars team but it is not going to be easy,” Gyan told Ghanaian publication Ghanasoccernet.
“It is not going to be easy, as you remember, Uganda came here and they drew,” he added. Ghana will qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup tournament if they beat Cranes this Saturday.
But that will not be straightforward considering that the Ghanaians have struggled on their travels to Kampala in recent years. The Black Stars lost 1-0 in 2002 before playing to a 1-1 draw in the 2004 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Gyan must also be aware of his side’s defensive frailties. Africa’s 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup representatives have shipped in five goals so far, two more than Cranes and could be in deep trouble if Cranes replicate the attacking vigour that helped them obliterate Ethiopia for a 3-0 win last Sunday.
The only concern is that Ssentamu is unlikely to recover from his twisted right ankle in time for the game on Saturday.
Attacking puzzle Aside from strikers Robert Ssentongo and Dan Sserunkuuma, Mike Sserumaga is the other ideal replacement that can be fielded as a withdrawn forward behind Geoffrey Massa.
Sserumaga brings others into play and will prove important for the team with time. He is an exceptional talent and has one of the best left feet in the country.
“We are happy that Sserumaga is back. He performed well against Ethiopia and will improve the team,” Massa said on Sunday.
But whether Ssentongo, Sserunkuma or Sserumaga start is a decision that will be entirely dependent on Micho Sredejovic, who has previously opted for a compact midfield and a lone striker.
If the Serbian chooses to start with two strikers, and wingers Moses Oloya and Luwagga Kizito —which is the ideal strategy — then he will have to sacrifice one of his three preferred holding midfielders in Khalid Aucho, Geoffrey Kizito or Tony Mawejje.
Now that will be one tough decision to make, given that Mawejje, Kizito and Khalid are such a domineering influence in the team. But it is such decisions that separate great coaches from average tacticians in world football.
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