CHAN: Micho targets more goals

Jul 24, 2013

Micho regrouped with the rest of his Cranes team yesterday following a two-day retreat to Ethiopia, where he had travelled to watch St George’s three Ugandans

By Fred Kaweesi

FOOTBALL is a straightforward game. Score more than your opponent and you’ll win. 

It’s a simple philosophy that teams that play attacking football use to counter the opposition.

It’s the philosophy that Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic appreciates and would love to adopt for Saturday’s Africa Nations Championship return leg against Tanzania.

Unfortunately, the Serbian might find that approach quite challenging to implement considering the attacking crisis in his Cranes’ set-up.

Micho regrouped with the rest of his Cranes team yesterday following a two-day retreat to Ethiopia, where he had travelled to watch St George’s three Ugandans Robert Ssentongo, Robert Odongkara and Isaac Isinde play in a CAF Confederations Cup game against Malian side Stade de Malien.

But the principle concern after guiding his charges in a gruelling session was the need to fi x the scoring crisis in the team.

“We need to start scoring. Unfortunately, we don’t have time. All I need to do now is help the players I have to focus and concentrate. The best I can do is teach them good positioning and how to make something out of nothing. How to open spaces and utilize them,” Micho stated yesterday.

Cranes scoring troubles were highlighted from the fact that the team lost two of its friendly games against the U-23 Kobs team with identical 1-0 defeats last Friday and had to rely on midfielder Denis Iguma for the all-important goal in Dar es Salaam.

The situation has not been helped by the fact that two of his first choice strikers Tony Odur and Patrick Edema are out of the return leg. 

Odur has been ruled out with a groin injury while Edema travelled to Portugal for a trial stint.

Micho invited strikers Simon Okwi (KCC FC), David Kasirye (URA FC) and Henry Oguti (Kiira Young).

However, there is enough to suggest that Okwi and Kasirye might be overlooked.

Okwi never scored a goal for KCC last season while Kasirye still needs to improve.

Micho will most likely look at Oguti as the best possible candidate to lead the attack due to his physical presence over the others. Frank Kalanda is the other contender.

The return of left-back Habib Kavuma is a huge plus. His presence will free Brian Majwega and offer Cranes an edge down the left. 

If Micho opts for his preferred 4-3-3 formation, then Said Kyeyune will start on the right alongside Oguti and Majwega with Joseph Mpande seated ahead of Denis Iguma and Hassan Wasswa in a three-man midfield.

Need to tame Kiemba, Ngassa and Bocco 

But as Micho tries to resolve Cranes scoring crisis, he will also have to design a strategy to frustrate Tanzania’s holy trinity of Amri Kiemba, Mrisho Ngassa and John Bocco.

The three did not hurt Cranes in Dar es Salaam but will possess enough ammunition to wreak havoc.

It will be interesting to see how the Taifa Stars perform without two of their first team stars Mwinyi Kazimoto and Salum Kapombe. The two travelled for professional trials in Qatar and Holland respectively.

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