Who will create Cranes goals?

Oct 04, 2011

Creating chances has not been the team’s staple diet before. It wasn’t during the goal-less draw in Nairobi, neither in the 2-0 defeat to Angola in Luanda.

By Fred Kaweesi
 
FOOTBALL is a straightforward game. Score more than your opponents and you win.
 
It’s a simple philosophy that teams who play attacking football use as their daily mantra. It’s the sort of philosophy that Bobby Williamson’s Cranes will have to adopt on Saturday if they are to plunder that historic win over Kenya.
 
Against the Harambee Stars, the temptation to be cautious will be there but sometimes you can be too cautious and play straight into the hands of the opposition – especially if that side is Kenya, whose style of play is attack and attack.
It is why the Cranes will have to put away every chance that comes their way.
 
But then again, chances from where? Creating chances has not been the team’s staple diet before. It wasn’t during the goal-less draw in Nairobi, neither in the 2-0 defeat to Angola in Luanda.
 
So where will the chances come? Who will ignite a goal galore at Namboole Stadium?
On the evidence of the game in Nairobi last year, Kenya will most likely deploy a 4-3-2-1 system that unsettled Cranes for large spells of the game. They will continue to rely on their speedy wingers Victor Mugabe and Kevin Omondi to stretch the Uganda team’s back-four and allow two of their danger men McDonald Mariga and Denis Oliech ample space within which to operate.
 
Although Oliech does start as a central striker, the Auxerre marksman often drifts wide, particularly on the right and carries with him a midfielder (Musa Mudde in this case) to allow midfielders Patrick Osiako and Mariga the time and space to contend with the other (Tony Mawejje) and shoot on goal.
 
In Nairobi, Mariga came close to scoring, twice hitting the upright from free kicks that curved round the wall. His two shots also missed the goal by a whisker, while another was saved by keeper Dennis Onyango.
 
On Saturday, Kenya’s strategy will hinge on pre-occupying Mawejje and Mudde and isolating the two from the attacking pair of David Obua and Geoffrey Massa. 
 
If Cranes are to press forward and try to score on every opportunity, it is unlikely that Mawejje and Mudde will be involved as the two will have to cover more ground in trying to join Obua and Geoffrey Massa. 
 
It’s why the contributions of whoever starts in the wide areas will prove extremely crucial in Cranes pursuit for goals.
Williamson will have to decide whether to retain defender Godfrey Walusimbi on the left side of midfield or gamble with a more offensive player from a pool that includes Mike Sserumaga, Steven Bengo and Mike Mutyaba.
 
The Scot also has three days to decide on whether to opt for the experienced Vincent Kayizzi or consider U-23 star Moses Oloya on the right side of midfield. Joseph Kabagambe, who started in the 2-0 defeat to Angola, was left out.
The million dollar question’ is who, on the basis of form and style of play, will feed Obua and Massa?
 
“I am enjoying the sessions and it feels great being part of a competitive group,” Vietnam-based right-footed winger Moses Oloya said yesterday.
 
Fast and a good technician, Oloya operates from wide positions but also pops to devastating effect in more central positions.
 
Cranes right-back Simeon Masaba attended the team’s session on the side-lines and stated: “I feel much better and should be fit for Saturday. The therapy has worked.”
 
Williamson will have a full side today following the arrivals of Massa, Ibrahim Sekagya, Obua, Mawejje and Nestroy Kizito yesterday night.
 

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