Feeling of déjà vu

By Phillip CorryDIFFERENT football generations have passed by since Uganda last played Ghana in the final of the 1978 African Cup of Nations edition in Accra, Ghana.For those who donned the Cranes jersey then, memories are fresh.“Ghana had a very good side that included the likes of the silky Abdul Razak, Robert Mensah, Fred Osam Duodo, Opuku Afriyie, Polo,” recalls former international defender Tom Lwanga.“At that final there were very many things that happened that affected us. Before the game our spirits were very high, but when we reached the stadium soccer fans told us not to use the main gate to the stadium, because it had bad luck. So we used the back gate and that disorganised us.“In the changing rooms they had fumigated the rooms and it upset our stomachs that led to the players being weak when playing on the pitch.”Despite the final loss, it was a memorable tourney in which the Cranes surprised even themselves.“The match that really caught our eyes was the opening group game between Morocco and Egypt. What we saw left us asking ourselves what we were going to do in the tournament,” Lwanga added. “But surprisingly we started the tournament with a bang beating Congo Brazzaville. From then on, people started to believe in us and started supporting us,” recalls Lwanga.The national team by then was handled by the late Peter Okee and managed by ‘Mister’ Bidandi Ssali, (Minister of Local government).The strength of that team was that it had been together for long.Uganda has participated in four editions in the African Cup of Nations — 1962 in Ethiopia, Egypt in 1974, Ethiopia in 1976 and Ghana in 1978.“In 1978 the national team had many established and experienced players who could compete at different levels of football.“We don’t have well established players today and it would be very difficult for a coach to select a side today,” Lwanga said.“It was very hard to distinguish between first team and second team players.”“We never used to look at individual players for victory. It was always a collective effort.”The clash next month in the African Cup of Nations qualifier will thus rekindle sweet memories for Uganda despite the 2-0 loss in 1978.The last time the two met was in the inaugural Castle Lager Cup in Kenya where Uganda edged the west Africans 2-1.How Uganda reached the final?1978 FinalsGroup BMorocco 1 Tunisia 1Uganda 3 Congo 0Tunisia 3 Uganda 1Morocco 1 Congo 0Congo 0 Tunisia 0Uganda 3 Morocco 0Semi-finalUganda 2 Nigeria 1FinalGhana 2 Uganda 0Uganda: Paul Ssali, Edward Ssemwanga, Sam Musenze, Tom Lwanga, James Kirunda, Mike Kiganda, Stanley Mubiru, Moses Nsereko, Phillip Omondi, Godfrey Kisitu, Isabirye.Ends