Bobby must drop retarded players
Feb 13, 2011
THERE is no doubt these are difficult times for Ugandan football -for Cranes manager Bobby Williamson in particular and his players too. Just like all Cranes faithful, the entire football fraternity will struggle to come to terms with Cranes’ humiliating exit from the Africa Nations Championships.
By Fred Kaweesi
THERE is no doubt these are difficult times for Ugandan football -for Cranes manager Bobby Williamson in particular and his players too.
Just like all Cranes faithful, the entire football fraternity will struggle to come to terms with Cranes’ humiliating exit from the Africa Nations Championships.
They will find it difficult to believe that the team meant to form the backbone of the future Cranes side -when the aging generation of the likes of Ibrahim Sekagya and David Obua finally fades, could not manage a single win in the local-based players’ competition.
What does the future hold? Where do we go from here?
Of course, several factors conspired to send Cranes’ depleted side out of the competition in Khartoum.
The ill-timed departures of over six first team stars to more rewarding professional leagues meant that Williamson had to re-install a competent goalkeeper (am not sure Hamza Muwonge is) in place of Robert Odongkara, brilliant left-back in place of Godfrey Walusimbi, decent defender to fill Isaac Isinde’s boots, and three attacking figures to replace Sula Matovu, Dan Wagaluka and Henry Kisekka –players that would certainly have guaranteed Uganda a better display in Sudan.
Then there was the issue of that dreadful artificial turf.
I am sure, among the excuses goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge and the rest of the team will raise when the post-mortem over the team’s disappointing outing begins, is that it was also difficult to calculate the bounce of the ball on the artificial turf on which all the team’s games were played. And they’ll be absolutely right.
Artificial surfaces are good but you have to get used to playing on them.
These plastic turfs are terribly bad when you have to play under the sort of temperatures (32 degrees centigrade) that Cranes did.
I consider it psychologically wrong. Sudan and Algeria definitely had to have the upper hand because both countries are accustomed to artificial surfaces and play week-in-week-out under similar conditions.
It’s probably high time we put our artificial turf in Njeru to better use.
How about the players
I might go on and on with all kinds of excuses but one bare fact remains and that is the current Cranes’ set-up needs urgent redressing.
For example, you would be at pains to identify who are the main players expected to fill the gaps that will be left behind by Sekagya and Obua?
Cranes technical team needs to get back to basics to resolve all this. That means studying the minute details of the team’s game and getting personal with players —to understand their opinions and what they think their strengths and weaknesses are.
Williamson will also need to ensure the players know exactly what is required of them when they pull on the shirt.
Why do the likes of Simon Sserunkuuma, Owen Kasule, Steven Bengo or Caesar Okhuti continue to struggle to make any significant contributions with the Cranes despite years of being summoned for national duty? A majority of these players have been in and around the team’s set-up and should be getting certain basics right, which isn’t.
Israel Emuge was among the choices that were unfairly left behind —the rock that has been behind KCC FC’s imperious run in the league.
If Cranes are to move forward then Williamson will have to do one, simple thing —be himself.
Whatever system he wants, stick to it. Whatever players he wants, pick them —but do so in the knowledge they understand precisely and exactly what their roles will be when they walk on to the pitch.
He will need to pick players that will make his systems work —not the players everyone else wil try to demand.
Apart from Ivan Bukenya, Denis Guma and Patrick Edema, what more do the rest have to offer the Cranes team in future?
What Cranes need are players with mental strength to deal with tough challenges. Players who go to any stadium and think ‘I like this, I want more of it’ not ‘Oh my God, get me out of here’. We need players who have no fear in their eyes. We need those big players, those lion-hearts.
The likes of Sadam Juma are good for youth competitions and not the senior team.
Williamson needs to wipe out the fear that is strangling our national teams —the kind of fear that had three players Kasule, Odur and later Habib Kavuma sent-off.
And to achieve this, local club coaches will need to assist the Scot too.
At the moment, Williamson should prioritise his energies in preparing a decent side that will plunder that priceless away result against Guinea Bissau on March 27.
THERE is no doubt these are difficult times for Ugandan football -for Cranes manager Bobby Williamson in particular and his players too.
Just like all Cranes faithful, the entire football fraternity will struggle to come to terms with Cranes’ humiliating exit from the Africa Nations Championships.
They will find it difficult to believe that the team meant to form the backbone of the future Cranes side -when the aging generation of the likes of Ibrahim Sekagya and David Obua finally fades, could not manage a single win in the local-based players’ competition.
What does the future hold? Where do we go from here?
Of course, several factors conspired to send Cranes’ depleted side out of the competition in Khartoum.
The ill-timed departures of over six first team stars to more rewarding professional leagues meant that Williamson had to re-install a competent goalkeeper (am not sure Hamza Muwonge is) in place of Robert Odongkara, brilliant left-back in place of Godfrey Walusimbi, decent defender to fill Isaac Isinde’s boots, and three attacking figures to replace Sula Matovu, Dan Wagaluka and Henry Kisekka –players that would certainly have guaranteed Uganda a better display in Sudan.
Then there was the issue of that dreadful artificial turf.
I am sure, among the excuses goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge and the rest of the team will raise when the post-mortem over the team’s disappointing outing begins, is that it was also difficult to calculate the bounce of the ball on the artificial turf on which all the team’s games were played. And they’ll be absolutely right.
Artificial surfaces are good but you have to get used to playing on them.
These plastic turfs are terribly bad when you have to play under the sort of temperatures (32 degrees centigrade) that Cranes did.
I consider it psychologically wrong. Sudan and Algeria definitely had to have the upper hand because both countries are accustomed to artificial surfaces and play week-in-week-out under similar conditions.
It’s probably high time we put our artificial turf in Njeru to better use.
How about the players
I might go on and on with all kinds of excuses but one bare fact remains and that is the current Cranes’ set-up needs urgent redressing.
For example, you would be at pains to identify who are the main players expected to fill the gaps that will be left behind by Sekagya and Obua?
Cranes technical team needs to get back to basics to resolve all this. That means studying the minute details of the team’s game and getting personal with players —to understand their opinions and what they think their strengths and weaknesses are.
Williamson will also need to ensure the players know exactly what is required of them when they pull on the shirt.
Why do the likes of Simon Sserunkuuma, Owen Kasule, Steven Bengo or Caesar Okhuti continue to struggle to make any significant contributions with the Cranes despite years of being summoned for national duty? A majority of these players have been in and around the team’s set-up and should be getting certain basics right, which isn’t.
Israel Emuge was among the choices that were unfairly left behind —the rock that has been behind KCC FC’s imperious run in the league.
If Cranes are to move forward then Williamson will have to do one, simple thing —be himself.
Whatever system he wants, stick to it. Whatever players he wants, pick them —but do so in the knowledge they understand precisely and exactly what their roles will be when they walk on to the pitch.
He will need to pick players that will make his systems work —not the players everyone else wil try to demand.
Apart from Ivan Bukenya, Denis Guma and Patrick Edema, what more do the rest have to offer the Cranes team in future?
What Cranes need are players with mental strength to deal with tough challenges. Players who go to any stadium and think ‘I like this, I want more of it’ not ‘Oh my God, get me out of here’. We need players who have no fear in their eyes. We need those big players, those lion-hearts.
The likes of Sadam Juma are good for youth competitions and not the senior team.
Williamson needs to wipe out the fear that is strangling our national teams —the kind of fear that had three players Kasule, Odur and later Habib Kavuma sent-off.
And to achieve this, local club coaches will need to assist the Scot too.
At the moment, Williamson should prioritise his energies in preparing a decent side that will plunder that priceless away result against Guinea Bissau on March 27.