Ochan earns cranes call

Mar 18, 2009

GOALKEEPER Benjamin Ochan’s spackling form for KCC in the club’s CAF Champions League campaign has earned him a call to the Uganda Cranes team for a friendly against Malawi at Namboole on Saturday.

By F. Kaweesi & S. Kenyi

GOALKEEPER Benjamin Ochan’s spackling form for KCC in the club’s CAF Champions League campaign has earned him a call to the Uganda Cranes team for a friendly against Malawi at Namboole on Saturday.

Ochan (pictured right) replaces SC Villa custodian Yasin Mugabi who got injured in the Cranes friendly against Sudan in Khartoum two weeks ago.

Ochan is one of the products of the Friends of Football and Kampala Kids League (KKL), and has toured Europe for age group tournaments.

Other new inclusions to the team are Bunamwaya midfielder Robert Kimuli and Police FC striker Bruno Olobo.

KCC team captain Sam Mubiru, who was dropped for the Sudan trip and Bunamwaya striker Caesar Okhuti, who missed with an injury have also been recalled.

Malawi, preparing for a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast next weekend, jet in today ahead of the match, that will present coach Bobby Williamson with the opportunity of reassessing his side’s attacking approach.

In the run-up to the friendly against Sudan, the Scot’s chief concern was designing a strategy that would help Uganda halt its winless run. Williamson and his youthful side delivered with a stunning 2-0 win over Sudan.

He is however still concerned that his charges unlocked the home side with the goals coming from set-piece situations.

“We got our two goals and that was fantastic but we need to create more chances into the box. We didn’t do that in Khartoum, hopefully we will get that right on Saturday,” Williamson stated.

The Scot spent his first session with the team yesterday refining its movement on-and-off the ball into the final third of the opponent’s half.

Wide midfielders Steven Bengo and Simon Sserunkuuma and central attacking midfielders Tony Mawejje and Patrick Ochan exhibited astute movement and were impressive in allowing forwards Brian Umony and Robert Ssentongo stroll with ease into space.

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