Massa promises plenty of goals

By Fred Kaweesi

IN the aftermath of Uganda’s historic 1-0 win over rivals Kenya in the CECAFA Challenge Cup in 2009, Harambee Stars defender Edgar Ochieng hinted: “If Massa (Geoffrey) had come off, the result would have been different.”

To the towering Kenyan defender, it was Massa and not the eventual match-winner Brian Umony that suffocated Kenya’s game plan.  

In this particular game, Massa laboured through 35 minutes with a torn muscle. Had he been any other player, with the possible exception of David Obua and Ibrahim Sekagya, the forward’s need for anti-inflammatory treatment would have seen him withdrawn.

But the Cranes technical team knew at the time that no other player would have restricted Harambee Stars’ two offensive-minded centre backs (Ochieng and Julius Owino) from rampaging forward.

It clearly explains why Ochieng and James Situma were all-smiles when the Cyprus-based striker started on the bench in the fixture that ended goal-less in Nairobi.

The bottom-line is if Massa does start on Saturday, Kenya will have a massive psychological block to contend with. 

Yesterday, Kenya head coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno confessed: “Massa can punish you with any slightest mistake.”

Against Kenya, Cranes will need pace and power and Massa does both for 90 minutes. Cranes will need a character that irritates defenders with a shove here, an elbow there and trickery to commit defenders into fouls. 

And just like, Harambee Stars’ lead striker Dennis Oliech, Massa does all that to perfection.

On Saturday, the 25-year-old struck once to help Yenicami Agdelen trounce Pafos 3-1 and claim his fifth league goal in seven matches.

Massa later told New Vision on phone that: “I am in very good shape and waiting for Kenya. We will give everything. This game means everything to us.”

“I am happy I came through the weekend game free of injury. I really want to score. I have not had the luck in front of goal in previous games but everything will come right on Saturday.”

Apart from Simeon Masaba, who is still undergoing therapy on his painful back, Bobby Williamson will have a full side tomorrow morning after the arrivals of Massa, Sekagya, Obua, Hassan Wasswa, Patrick Ochan, Tonny Mawejje and Nestroy Kizito later tonight. Geoffrey Sserunkuuma and Denis Onyango arrived yesterday.

Mauritanian refs for the game

Aware of the magnitude of the game and intensity of rivalry between the two countries, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has appointed experienced Mauritanian referees to officiate the explosive fixture at Mandela National Stadium.

Seechun Rajindrapasad, will be the centre referee, assisted by Bootun Balkrishba as first assistant and Vivan Vally as second assistant with Chutoree Vinaye the fourth official.

Eritrean Gebreyesus Tesfaye will be the match commissioner.

All that Cranes, currently on 10 points, need to do is beat Kenya (7 points) to qualify for the finals.