Cranes receive rude  welcome in Benin
Jun 04, 2008
UGANDA Cranes chances of registering a rare away win were dealt a psychological blow on arrival in Benin on Tuesday night. The omens appear to be against the Ugandan side, for whom, aside from making their second World/Nations Cup qualifier without four major first team players, are struggling
By Fred Kaweesi
Sunday
Benin v Uganda
UGANDA Cranes chances of registering a rare away win were dealt a psychological blow on arrival in Benin on Tuesday night. The omens appear to be against the Ugandan side, for whom, aside from making their second World/Nations Cup qualifier without four major first team players, are struggling to contend with ‘a ghetto style’ of life in Porto Novo.
The team underwent a stressing 19-hour journey to the West African state before the 25-man contingent was confronted with a catalogue of problems.
“Life is not good at all here. We have not slept since and are not in the right physical shape to train even today (Wednesday),†Cranes custodian Denis Onyango said on phone from Porto Novo.
The Cranes spent nine hours at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi before embarking on their five-hour trip to Benin.
Sadly, the Ugandan delegation had no one to welcome them and had to spend another three hours at the airport lobby devising their own travel arrangements and trying to trace an affordable hotel.
“It’s something similar to staying in Kisenyi. It’s pathetic,†another player added. Essentially Benin were not to blame for Cranes’ mess.
“They weren’t received probably because the Benin federation wasn’t aware since we had belatedly changed our departure dates. They were also taken up by the arrival of the Benin national team from South Africa,†FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa stated.
According to amended CAF rules, teams are supposed to cater for themselves when they travel for away assignments. However, the host nation can take care of the visiting team, only under a memorandum of understanding between the two soccer federations.
Mulindwa confirmed that Benin had accepted to finance Uganda’s stay in Porto Novo, on condition Uganda returns the favour during the Squirrels visit in September.
Ugandan teams have in the past accused their various hosts of foul play. Express, in particular, complained before their Confederations Cup game against DR Congo side AS Vita of having been kept at the airport for long.
The Cranes have also on previous occasions complained of something similar besides being given food with plenty of pepper, and placed in hotels far from the stadia.
Meanwhile, Norman Katende reports that striker Caesar Okhuti will fly out today evening with the FUFA president to join the rest of the team, according to FUFA media committee head Rogers Mulindwa. Okhuti did not travel with his colleagues as he had to write examinations at his Mvara SS in Arua.
The change in the team's travel schedule from Thursday to Tuesday also meant that Okhuti could not make it in time. Okhuti is expected in Kampala this morning.
Sunday
Benin v Uganda
UGANDA Cranes chances of registering a rare away win were dealt a psychological blow on arrival in Benin on Tuesday night. The omens appear to be against the Ugandan side, for whom, aside from making their second World/Nations Cup qualifier without four major first team players, are struggling to contend with ‘a ghetto style’ of life in Porto Novo.
The team underwent a stressing 19-hour journey to the West African state before the 25-man contingent was confronted with a catalogue of problems.
“Life is not good at all here. We have not slept since and are not in the right physical shape to train even today (Wednesday),†Cranes custodian Denis Onyango said on phone from Porto Novo.
The Cranes spent nine hours at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi before embarking on their five-hour trip to Benin.
Sadly, the Ugandan delegation had no one to welcome them and had to spend another three hours at the airport lobby devising their own travel arrangements and trying to trace an affordable hotel.
“It’s something similar to staying in Kisenyi. It’s pathetic,†another player added. Essentially Benin were not to blame for Cranes’ mess.
“They weren’t received probably because the Benin federation wasn’t aware since we had belatedly changed our departure dates. They were also taken up by the arrival of the Benin national team from South Africa,†FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa stated.
According to amended CAF rules, teams are supposed to cater for themselves when they travel for away assignments. However, the host nation can take care of the visiting team, only under a memorandum of understanding between the two soccer federations.
Mulindwa confirmed that Benin had accepted to finance Uganda’s stay in Porto Novo, on condition Uganda returns the favour during the Squirrels visit in September.
Ugandan teams have in the past accused their various hosts of foul play. Express, in particular, complained before their Confederations Cup game against DR Congo side AS Vita of having been kept at the airport for long.
The Cranes have also on previous occasions complained of something similar besides being given food with plenty of pepper, and placed in hotels far from the stadia.
Meanwhile, Norman Katende reports that striker Caesar Okhuti will fly out today evening with the FUFA president to join the rest of the team, according to FUFA media committee head Rogers Mulindwa. Okhuti did not travel with his colleagues as he had to write examinations at his Mvara SS in Arua.
The change in the team's travel schedule from Thursday to Tuesday also meant that Okhuti could not make it in time. Okhuti is expected in Kampala this morning.