Umony back for Cranes

Oct 08, 2011

BRIAN Umony returns to Cranes after a year’s absence when he takes up disgraced David Obua’s place on the team. He is now leading the striking line with Mike Sserumaga and Geoffrey Massa. Umony is a fans darling, having emerged two years ago from nowhere to lead Cranes to Senior Challenge Cup glory

 By Online Reporter

BRIAN Umony returns to Cranes after a year’s absence when he takes up disgraced David Obua’s place on the team. He is now leading the striking line with Mike Sserumaga and Geoffrey Massa. Umony is a fans darling, having emerged two years ago from nowhere to lead Cranes to Senior Challenge Cup glory.
 
The game is in play, still Uganda 0 Kenya 0(second half).
 
Obua was thrown out of camp Friday, when he walked out before President Yoweri Museveni was due to visit the camp.
 
 By 9am, fans were already at the gates, demanding to enter the stadium. Security has just allowed them in, to ease the crowding at Namboole
 
The major battles
 
The Uganda Cranes confront arch-rivals Kenya in a rematch of the 2009 CECAFA Challenge Cup final. The only difference is that this is the biggest of all previous meetings – a clash of titanic proportions and one that will change careers and image of both countries.
 
Below, I look at the crucial individual duels that will decide the Nations Cup qualifying showdown between the two fierce rivals at Namboole Stadium.
 
Umony v Edgar Ochieng
 
Here we will have Kenya’s best and most in-form defender trying to stop Cranes match-winner with two goals so far in the qualifiers.
 
As good as Ochieng and Kenya have been defensively, it’s hard to see Umony not mark his return with big impact.
 
Geoffrey Massa v James Situma
 
Here’s the clash that I want to see. I’ve been telling people for years that Massa is a decent forward and one that doesn’t dive. Rather, he just makes people look foolish with deft turns and pace and as a result he’s hacked down. Situma has had a good run and based on form this should be a fair and even match-up. However, I don’t see it as such. I see potential cards and frustration for Situma.
 
Nestroy Kizito v Victor Mugabe
 
Now this is the match-up that Bobby should be most concerned about. Celtic manager Neil Lennon has had Mugabe well-schooled in fundamentals and positioning since his move to the club this year. Nonetheless, Kizito’s immeasurable experience could prove the difference.
 
Simeon Masaba v Kevin Omondi
 
Is Masaba a right winger that has been set-in to rot at right-back for all these years? Maybe yes, maybe not.
The thing is Masaba can fit-in in many positions all over the field much like who he’ll be running into most of today in Omondi.
 
Omondi seems to come up big when it’s needed. He will keep Masaba pushed back to a certain degree, but not entirely through the game.
 
Musa Mudde v McDonald Mariga

The two will battle in the dead-centre of the field. We will have two of the most accurate passers squaring-off here. On their best day, I would tip Mariga over Mudde on grounds of experience, but some nagging niggles makes this an even set.
 
Tony Mawejje v Patrick Osiako
 
Just like the Mudde-Mariga contest, these two will also battle in the dead-centre of the field. Blood and guts with distribution in this contest. You have two very similar players here. Guys that win balls, distribute, do dirty work, and provide movement. Mawejje moves and distributes better while Osiako has a slight edge in defending.
 
Andrew Mwesigwa v Dennis Oliech
 
The key to this fixture could ultimately be down to how well Mwesigwa stifles Kenya’s best striker. Don’t be surprised to see Mwesigwa huffing-back to save the day as he usually does when Cranes play a well-versed counter-attacking team as Oliech is such a hard working player.
 
Vincent Kayizzi v Dennis Odhiambo
 
Kayizzi complements Obua, Massa and Mawejje beautifully. Of anywhere on the field, this is the space that Kenya should be most anxious about. Odhiambo really likes to get-up the field and help combine in the attack. And, he is great at it. However, there aren’t many people that can exploit this more than the lightening-quick and skillfully adroit Kayizzi
 
Ibrahim Sekagya v Allan Wanga
 
Captain fantastic! The Red Bulls Salzburg defender has down the years given exemplary performances at the back for the Cranes.
 
Besides proving intelligent, Sekagya is such a fantastic game reader and timely tackler –attributes that should pocket Kenya’s Wanga.
 
Mike Sserumagga v Osborne Monday
This should be a fun and contentious spectacle to watch. My guess is if Sserumagga can get to Monday’s nerves and unsettle him, this could be one guaranteed route to goal.
 
Dennis Onyango v Wilson Obungo

Denis Onyango has had a fantastic Nations Cup qualifying campaign with the Cranes so far. He has been a defensive bedrock and a key part behind a back-four that has only let in two goals.

His 6ft 1inch frame is the other bonus that Kenyan forwards will struggle to match. That’s the opp

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