Cranes to renew assault on continental front in 2008
Jan 02, 2008
IT took an emotive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign from 2006 to 2007 for football to showcase its unique ability to first unify a nation, and then break the collective heart of its people.
By Paul Mbuga
IT took an emotive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign from 2006 to 2007 for football to showcase its unique ability to first unify a nation, and then break the collective heart of its people.
Cranes in qualifying quest
On May 31 this year, the Uganda Cranes will partake of yet another qualifying campaign as the nation’s footballers seek the right to play in the Nations Cup in 2010 in Angola and, in an even grander quest, the World Cup in South Africa that same year.
The events leading to Uganda’s failure to qualify for the Nations Cup that commences in Ghana in a little over a fortnight need no further examination.
What remains clear is that Cranes’ campaign was undone by an inability to score a bountiful of goals — just one more would have sufficed to send the team to Africa’s premier football event.
But even the veritable lottery that is goal difference could have been avoided had the team managed to secure a precious away victory.
The Cranes will kick off the first phase of their campaign with a home encounter against Niger on May 31, before playing three other matches against Benin and Angola home and away between June 7 and June 21 in a furious opening spell that may well decide the team’s fate. And the football administration — as well as national team coach Laszlo Csaba — have learnt some bitter lessons from the ultimately fruitless attempt to qualify for Ghana 2008.
“This time round we are going to pay a lot more attention to away matches. If we had earned maximum points at one away match, we would have qualified,†FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa conceded last week.
Csaba himself emphasised the need for preparation, plus a little more calculated support from FUFA.
“I expect several friendly matches that will enable me assemble two solid teams that will compete in the qualifiers,†the German-Hungarian stated.
“And FUFA must start considering what I tell them. Before the Niger game, I suggested having the game played on Sunday night and my idea was ignored. In my opinion, that decided our destiny.â€
Later in November, Uganda will play host to the CECAFA Challenge Cup, a tournament Uganda last won in 2003. Csaba –– if he is still in charge –– has shown that while he enters the CECAFA tournament intending to win it, he will not be stopped from experimenting.
URA, Express seek CAF glory
In February, league champions Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Kakungulu Cup holders Express FC will aim to make a belated impression on the nation’s behalf when the CAF Champions League and CAF Cup resume.
2008 will mark URA’s third foray into the Champions League, and the flamboyant manager Frank “Video†Anyau will have to address his team’s manifest lack of bite if the tax collectors are to buck a depressingly average record continentally.
Last year, URA paid the price for underestimating Cameroonian opponents Cotton Sport, losing 3-0 in Yaounde and failing to score in the return leg in Kampala.
It was the second time in consecutive years URA was eliminated at the first knock-out stage.
“Finishing. That’s the problem,†was the verdict Anyau delivered after the defeat.
This year, the tax collectors have been drawn against Zambian side Zesco, while Express –– who had originally indicated they would not be able to participate in the competition due to financial constraints –– will have to negotiate their way past Burundi’s Inter Star.
No Ugandan team has ever made it to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.
Super League to thrive
In the domestic Super League, Police, SC Villa and Victors set the pace in the New Year as the league approached its halfway stage, though the trio will be wary of the inevitable challenge posed by KCC, who are nine points behind leaders Police but three games in arrears.
But despite the inconsistent attendances of matches, the league continues to ride on a major shot in the arm from sponsors Gateway Television (GTV), the pay-TV providers.
GTV, significantly, will remit shs36m to every club this season, which monies will be released on a quarterly basis.
The knock-on effects of the landmark deal have been obvious; the administrative difficulties faced by several clubs as a result of a protracted cash flow have been eased and the playing field among the league’s mid-level clubs has been significantly equalled.
Narrowed, too, has been the gap between the mid-level clubs and the traditional Big Three of SC Villa, KCC FC and Express and institutional giants Police and, notably URA.
URA has struggled for form and consistency, while Express has been matched blow-for-blow.
It is a fascinating trend that should continue long into the New Year — the league embracing an all-round competitiveness.
For the romantics, Sam Ssimbwa — for so long the redeemer of clubs destined for either mediocrity or relegation — and his attempt to save Simba FC from relegation (the army side lies a perilous fourth from bottom with only 10 points) will make for compelling viewing in 2008.
GTV factor
2008 should see the clubs harness the economic potential GTV offers.
The pay-television’s contribution to fostering competition in the league is a given, but more so — if not as obvious — in regard to enabling local players pursue opportunities to embark on professional careers.
GTV’s commitment to telecast both live and recorded matches, and a highlights programme, is already a tailor-made marketing strategy.
IT took an emotive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign from 2006 to 2007 for football to showcase its unique ability to first unify a nation, and then break the collective heart of its people.
Cranes in qualifying quest
On May 31 this year, the Uganda Cranes will partake of yet another qualifying campaign as the nation’s footballers seek the right to play in the Nations Cup in 2010 in Angola and, in an even grander quest, the World Cup in South Africa that same year.
The events leading to Uganda’s failure to qualify for the Nations Cup that commences in Ghana in a little over a fortnight need no further examination.
What remains clear is that Cranes’ campaign was undone by an inability to score a bountiful of goals — just one more would have sufficed to send the team to Africa’s premier football event.
But even the veritable lottery that is goal difference could have been avoided had the team managed to secure a precious away victory.
The Cranes will kick off the first phase of their campaign with a home encounter against Niger on May 31, before playing three other matches against Benin and Angola home and away between June 7 and June 21 in a furious opening spell that may well decide the team’s fate. And the football administration — as well as national team coach Laszlo Csaba — have learnt some bitter lessons from the ultimately fruitless attempt to qualify for Ghana 2008.
“This time round we are going to pay a lot more attention to away matches. If we had earned maximum points at one away match, we would have qualified,†FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa conceded last week.
Csaba himself emphasised the need for preparation, plus a little more calculated support from FUFA.
“I expect several friendly matches that will enable me assemble two solid teams that will compete in the qualifiers,†the German-Hungarian stated.
“And FUFA must start considering what I tell them. Before the Niger game, I suggested having the game played on Sunday night and my idea was ignored. In my opinion, that decided our destiny.â€
Later in November, Uganda will play host to the CECAFA Challenge Cup, a tournament Uganda last won in 2003. Csaba –– if he is still in charge –– has shown that while he enters the CECAFA tournament intending to win it, he will not be stopped from experimenting.
URA, Express seek CAF glory
In February, league champions Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Kakungulu Cup holders Express FC will aim to make a belated impression on the nation’s behalf when the CAF Champions League and CAF Cup resume.
2008 will mark URA’s third foray into the Champions League, and the flamboyant manager Frank “Video†Anyau will have to address his team’s manifest lack of bite if the tax collectors are to buck a depressingly average record continentally.
Last year, URA paid the price for underestimating Cameroonian opponents Cotton Sport, losing 3-0 in Yaounde and failing to score in the return leg in Kampala.
It was the second time in consecutive years URA was eliminated at the first knock-out stage.
“Finishing. That’s the problem,†was the verdict Anyau delivered after the defeat.
This year, the tax collectors have been drawn against Zambian side Zesco, while Express –– who had originally indicated they would not be able to participate in the competition due to financial constraints –– will have to negotiate their way past Burundi’s Inter Star.
No Ugandan team has ever made it to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.
Super League to thrive
In the domestic Super League, Police, SC Villa and Victors set the pace in the New Year as the league approached its halfway stage, though the trio will be wary of the inevitable challenge posed by KCC, who are nine points behind leaders Police but three games in arrears.
But despite the inconsistent attendances of matches, the league continues to ride on a major shot in the arm from sponsors Gateway Television (GTV), the pay-TV providers.
GTV, significantly, will remit shs36m to every club this season, which monies will be released on a quarterly basis.
The knock-on effects of the landmark deal have been obvious; the administrative difficulties faced by several clubs as a result of a protracted cash flow have been eased and the playing field among the league’s mid-level clubs has been significantly equalled.
Narrowed, too, has been the gap between the mid-level clubs and the traditional Big Three of SC Villa, KCC FC and Express and institutional giants Police and, notably URA.
URA has struggled for form and consistency, while Express has been matched blow-for-blow.
It is a fascinating trend that should continue long into the New Year — the league embracing an all-round competitiveness.
For the romantics, Sam Ssimbwa — for so long the redeemer of clubs destined for either mediocrity or relegation — and his attempt to save Simba FC from relegation (the army side lies a perilous fourth from bottom with only 10 points) will make for compelling viewing in 2008.
GTV factor
2008 should see the clubs harness the economic potential GTV offers.
The pay-television’s contribution to fostering competition in the league is a given, but more so — if not as obvious — in regard to enabling local players pursue opportunities to embark on professional careers.
GTV’s commitment to telecast both live and recorded matches, and a highlights programme, is already a tailor-made marketing strategy.