Massa gets a knock
May 29, 2008
IF there is a moment that Ugandan football has ever needed ‘extra divine help’, then it has to be now.
Fred Kaweesi
World Cup qualifier
Tomorrow, 4.00pm
Uganda v Niger
IF there is a moment that Ugandan football has ever needed ‘extra divine help’, then it has to be now.
The next 24 hours will largely determine whether Cranes’ lead striker Geoffrey Massa will be fit for tomorrow’s must-win World Cup qualifier against Niger.
The 22-year-old forward collapsed in pain at Mandela Stadium yesterday after straining his right thigh muscle. Massa got injured while trying to latch onto a Jimmy Kidega through-ball in a morning session that had seen him plunder four exceptional goals.
Head coach Laszlo Csaba was stunned and sought out team doctor Ronald Kisolo. Kisolo ruled that Massa can only resume rigorous training tomorrow afternoon .
“I can only pass judgment over his fitness after 24 hours. He has suffered the same injury before, so we should only hope for the best,†Kisolo stated.
If Massa fails to fully recover, the Cranes would be deprived of the services of a striker, whose contributions to Uganda’s hopes of qualifying in the previous campaign were only second to David Obua.
He scored twice and won three penalties, one against Lesotho and two against Nigeria in June last year.
“I really want to play on Saturday and I hope I do. I have waited for this game since the draws were made,†Massa said.
Ssepuuya and Okhuti
In the event that Massa doesn’t recover, Ediofe striker Caesar Okhuti could be thrown into the mix, as a support striker to Serbia-based forward Eugene Ssepuuya.
Massa’s absence elevates Ssepuuya as the lead striker on the Cranes’ attacking radar in the 4-4-2 formation.
With Okhuti, dropping off the shoulder of Ssepuuya, the pair looked decent in the second half of the training session yesterday.
Ssepuuya and Sserunkuuma
Despite being Uganda’s most efficient finisher in his limited appearances, Geoffrey Sserunkuuma has always been forced to sit on the bench by Csaba and brought on for a few minutes.
A starting role, alongside Ssepuuya in the absence of Massa would provide an extraordinary counterpoint.
In Csaba’s first game as Cranes coach, Sserunkuuma came from the bench with five minutes to go to help Uganda to a priceless away 1-1 draw against Rwanda.
The Nalubaale striker then struck with just 10 minutes left as Uganda lost 3-2 to Libya in a friendly in Tripoli. He gathered three goals again coming from the bench during the 2006 CECAFA challenge Cup in Ethiopia. Sserunkuuma is the unfortunate player that had his goal disallowed against Nigeria last year.
Probable Line-up: D.Onyango, A.Mwesigwa, N.Kizito, T.Batabaire, I.Sekagya, N.Kasule, J.Kabagambe, A.Bajope, G.Sserunkuuma,E,Ssepuuya, D.Obua
Substitutes:
H.Kalyesuubula, S.Tenywa, M.Sserumaga, A.Tabula, C.Okhuti, J.Kidega, G.Massa, S.Masaba
GTV live at 4pm
* Tomorrow’s Uganda-Niger game will start at 4.00pm, 30 minutes earlier than usual, national team media right holders GTV announced yesterday, reports Norman Katende.
The pay television’s general manager Dan Kagwe, told the media that the change was made to cater for the international audience.
“We broadcast the game live because we are looking at the people out there who will not be able to travel to Namboole for the encounter. We have entered a partnership with MTN to air it live,†said Kaggwe.
* Former France, Chelsea and AC Milan defender Marcel Desailly, who will arrive today morning with the Barclays Premiership trophy, is set to have a talk with the Cranes squad in the afternoon about professionalism, and how to succeed.
“I think they need to get it from the man who has been there. We know he will give them on field tips but we will also ask him to talk to them about the conduct in order to succeed with their careers,†said Barclays Bank head of marketing Gunilla Ouko.
Desailly is coming along with the English Premiership trophy which will be displayed in Kampala courtesy of Barclays Bank.
World Cup qualifier
Tomorrow, 4.00pm
Uganda v Niger
IF there is a moment that Ugandan football has ever needed ‘extra divine help’, then it has to be now.
The next 24 hours will largely determine whether Cranes’ lead striker Geoffrey Massa will be fit for tomorrow’s must-win World Cup qualifier against Niger.
The 22-year-old forward collapsed in pain at Mandela Stadium yesterday after straining his right thigh muscle. Massa got injured while trying to latch onto a Jimmy Kidega through-ball in a morning session that had seen him plunder four exceptional goals.
Head coach Laszlo Csaba was stunned and sought out team doctor Ronald Kisolo. Kisolo ruled that Massa can only resume rigorous training tomorrow afternoon .
“I can only pass judgment over his fitness after 24 hours. He has suffered the same injury before, so we should only hope for the best,†Kisolo stated.
If Massa fails to fully recover, the Cranes would be deprived of the services of a striker, whose contributions to Uganda’s hopes of qualifying in the previous campaign were only second to David Obua.
He scored twice and won three penalties, one against Lesotho and two against Nigeria in June last year.
“I really want to play on Saturday and I hope I do. I have waited for this game since the draws were made,†Massa said.
Ssepuuya and Okhuti
In the event that Massa doesn’t recover, Ediofe striker Caesar Okhuti could be thrown into the mix, as a support striker to Serbia-based forward Eugene Ssepuuya.
Massa’s absence elevates Ssepuuya as the lead striker on the Cranes’ attacking radar in the 4-4-2 formation.
With Okhuti, dropping off the shoulder of Ssepuuya, the pair looked decent in the second half of the training session yesterday.
Ssepuuya and Sserunkuuma
Despite being Uganda’s most efficient finisher in his limited appearances, Geoffrey Sserunkuuma has always been forced to sit on the bench by Csaba and brought on for a few minutes.
A starting role, alongside Ssepuuya in the absence of Massa would provide an extraordinary counterpoint.
In Csaba’s first game as Cranes coach, Sserunkuuma came from the bench with five minutes to go to help Uganda to a priceless away 1-1 draw against Rwanda.
The Nalubaale striker then struck with just 10 minutes left as Uganda lost 3-2 to Libya in a friendly in Tripoli. He gathered three goals again coming from the bench during the 2006 CECAFA challenge Cup in Ethiopia. Sserunkuuma is the unfortunate player that had his goal disallowed against Nigeria last year.
Probable Line-up: D.Onyango, A.Mwesigwa, N.Kizito, T.Batabaire, I.Sekagya, N.Kasule, J.Kabagambe, A.Bajope, G.Sserunkuuma,E,Ssepuuya, D.Obua
Substitutes:
H.Kalyesuubula, S.Tenywa, M.Sserumaga, A.Tabula, C.Okhuti, J.Kidega, G.Massa, S.Masaba
GTV live at 4pm
* Tomorrow’s Uganda-Niger game will start at 4.00pm, 30 minutes earlier than usual, national team media right holders GTV announced yesterday, reports Norman Katende.
The pay television’s general manager Dan Kagwe, told the media that the change was made to cater for the international audience.
“We broadcast the game live because we are looking at the people out there who will not be able to travel to Namboole for the encounter. We have entered a partnership with MTN to air it live,†said Kaggwe.
* Former France, Chelsea and AC Milan defender Marcel Desailly, who will arrive today morning with the Barclays Premiership trophy, is set to have a talk with the Cranes squad in the afternoon about professionalism, and how to succeed.
“I think they need to get it from the man who has been there. We know he will give them on field tips but we will also ask him to talk to them about the conduct in order to succeed with their careers,†said Barclays Bank head of marketing Gunilla Ouko.
Desailly is coming along with the English Premiership trophy which will be displayed in Kampala courtesy of Barclays Bank.