Uganda Cranes target is 3-nil

May 17, 2008

CAESAR Okhuti admits he will feel like jumping off a bridge if the worst happens and he can’t save the Uganda Cranes today. The 19-year-old striker will make the crunch Africa Championship qualifier against Tanzania full of bravado and in no doubt as to whether Uganda will progress.

By Fred Kaweesi
Today, 4pm Uganda v Tanzania

CAESAR Okhuti admits he will feel like jumping off a bridge if the worst happens and he can’t save the Uganda Cranes today.

The 19-year-old striker will make the crunch Africa Championship qualifier against Tanzania full of bravado and in no doubt as to whether Uganda will progress.

Yet behind that, Okhuti knows he will feel as bad as, or, probably worse than every fan if things don’t work out their way.

“It is the most important game of my life and defeat is unthinkable. I would feel like falling off a bridge may be — it will basically be painful that’s why it won’t happen,” Okhuti said after training yesterday. Okhuti of course remains Cranes’ primary route to goal at Nakivubo Stadium.

The Ediofe Hills forward is the bookmaker’s favourite to lead the three-goal hunt needed to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit and edge Kilimanjaro Stars. On an afternoon when everyone will be on the edge of their seats, Cranes players will be under orders not to sit back. Csaba concedes that the task at hand for the 11 cards he intends to roll out is exceedingly phenomenal. But such is the striking aspect of football that each player has been convinced that the scale of the mountain they have to climb will be reduced from Everest to Elgon by teamwork.

“I have never doubted what they can do, and I have kept reminding them they are good enough to progress,” Csaba said. “We conceded two away against Eritrea, scored three in the return. That is still possible.” Indeed, it will be Cranes’ togetherness, the desire to accept the ball in tight situations—with colleagues always making space to help out — that will definitely decide Uganda’s fate. If Cranes can thwart the visitor’s passing game, then the attacking armoury of Okhuti and Geoffrey Sserunkuuma, fed by midfield ace Steven Bengo, will prove dreadful.

Csaba emphasised that Cranes’ shape with Okhuti as the forward focus, will be built with the aim of freeing the extra striker, and allowing the wide men to shoot.

Probable Cranes line-up

H.Muwonge, J.Mulindwa, S.Senoga, M.Doka, J.Owino, J.Bagoole, D.Wagaluka, S.Bengo, G.Sserunkuuma, C.Okhuti, A.Bongole.

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