Martyrs' Day blessing for Cranes tie
May 30, 2011
PRAYER has been at the fore front for many sportsmen and women world over, many times in soccer. Even when results don’t come in their favour at the end of the game, they keep the faith in the next encounter.
By ALOYSIUS BYAMUKAMA
PRAYER has been at the fore front for many sportsmen and women world over, many times in soccer.
Both players and managers on several occasions have embraced each other as they forward their supplications to the almighty God or Allah, whoever, for nothing else but blessings in the game.
Even when results don’t come in their favour at the end of the game, they keep the faith in the next encounter.
On Saturday when Uganda hosts guinea Bissau in a crucial 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier, it will be just four years and two days after the Cranes’ historical ‘June Massacre’ of the mighty Super Eagles of Nigeria at Nambole on June 2, 2007. This was during the 2008 campaign for the finals held in Ghana.
Although they never made it to Kumasi, the memory of a 2-1 victory over the Nigerians might still be rooted in many a Cranes fan both in and outside Uganda.
It is not religious superstition, but all the jubilation and excitement that rocked Kampala, its suburbs and other upcountry towns after the match, might have been an inspiration by the supplications during the holly week in commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs. The victory came on the eve of the Martyrs Day proper.
Geoffrey Massa’s drives into ‘Workers House’ like Nigerian defender Danny Shitu and again the run into custodian Austin Ejide for the two resultant penalties converted by David Obua and captain Ibrahim Ssekagya, was nothing but a martyr-driven dedication.
In Saturday’s game, coming a day after the Martyrs Day, the Cranes will need such dedication at this time of great need.
Former Speaker of Parliament, now Vice President Edward Ssekandi, who was chief guest during the Nigeria game, should return with his ‘good luck’. ‘We Go Cranes We Go’.
PRAYER has been at the fore front for many sportsmen and women world over, many times in soccer.
Both players and managers on several occasions have embraced each other as they forward their supplications to the almighty God or Allah, whoever, for nothing else but blessings in the game.
Even when results don’t come in their favour at the end of the game, they keep the faith in the next encounter.
On Saturday when Uganda hosts guinea Bissau in a crucial 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier, it will be just four years and two days after the Cranes’ historical ‘June Massacre’ of the mighty Super Eagles of Nigeria at Nambole on June 2, 2007. This was during the 2008 campaign for the finals held in Ghana.
Although they never made it to Kumasi, the memory of a 2-1 victory over the Nigerians might still be rooted in many a Cranes fan both in and outside Uganda.
It is not religious superstition, but all the jubilation and excitement that rocked Kampala, its suburbs and other upcountry towns after the match, might have been an inspiration by the supplications during the holly week in commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs. The victory came on the eve of the Martyrs Day proper.
Geoffrey Massa’s drives into ‘Workers House’ like Nigerian defender Danny Shitu and again the run into custodian Austin Ejide for the two resultant penalties converted by David Obua and captain Ibrahim Ssekagya, was nothing but a martyr-driven dedication.
In Saturday’s game, coming a day after the Martyrs Day, the Cranes will need such dedication at this time of great need.
Former Speaker of Parliament, now Vice President Edward Ssekandi, who was chief guest during the Nigeria game, should return with his ‘good luck’. ‘We Go Cranes We Go’.