Ugandan Cranes crack Sudan
BOBBY Williamson feels the current Cranes side has all the attributes required to end Uganda’s failed attempts at making major finals since 1978.
By Fred Kaweesi
In Khartoum, Sudan
International friendly
Sudan 0 Uganda 2
BOBBY Williamson feels the current Cranes side has all the attributes required to end Uganda’s failed attempts at making major finals since 1978.
Uganda’s enduring love affair with the Nations Cup and World Cup has been a roller-coaster of pure agony since the late 1970s, with the intervening years authoring a series of near-misses and abject failures in qualification.
Several factors have been fronted for this setback, yet pundits and Cranes head coach Williamson highlight the team’s poor performances on foreign ground as primary.
Aside from CECAFA Challenge Cup glory, it took Williamson just 90 minutes against Sudan on Saturday to suggest: “This team will make it. These lads have got it. We knew we had to find the right mentality of winning away from home. On Saturday, I saw that. These guys have a great future,†Williamson stated.
“I achieved what I wanted from this game. I wanted answers as to why we would never win away from home. From the day we stepped in there, I knew what the problems were and this should be history. We need just a few more friendly games away,†Williamson added after the game played on an artificial turf Khartoum Stadium.
The Scot is particularly sure Cranes’ match-winner in Sudan Brian Umony has all the qualities needed of a complete forward.
“Umony was fantastic. He took his chances well. That’s what you need of a striker,†Williamson stated of the forward, who has nine Cranes’ career goals to his name so far.
“I have seen upcoming strikers but I can tell you that Umony is something different and something special,†Cranes deputy coach and former star Jackson Mayanja stated.
Williamson fielded a changed Cranes side from the team that won the CECAFA Challenge Cup, with five youngsters introduced in the side in the shape of goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge, a new central defence pairing of Jimmy Mukubya and Musa Doka, and attacking players Simon Sserunkuma and Emma Okwi.
The five adjusted perfectly into Williamson’s vibrant established side and the Scot could find himself spoilt for choice when the real Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign curtains open in 2010.
“This team did me proud. They knew what to do and when and that’s what I needed. We were mature, we can only improve,†added an excited Williamson.
In Khartoum, Sudan
International friendly
Sudan 0 Uganda 2
BOBBY Williamson feels the current Cranes side has all the attributes required to end Uganda’s failed attempts at making major finals since 1978.
Uganda’s enduring love affair with the Nations Cup and World Cup has been a roller-coaster of pure agony since the late 1970s, with the intervening years authoring a series of near-misses and abject failures in qualification.
Several factors have been fronted for this setback, yet pundits and Cranes head coach Williamson highlight the team’s poor performances on foreign ground as primary.
Aside from CECAFA Challenge Cup glory, it took Williamson just 90 minutes against Sudan on Saturday to suggest: “This team will make it. These lads have got it. We knew we had to find the right mentality of winning away from home. On Saturday, I saw that. These guys have a great future,†Williamson stated.
“I achieved what I wanted from this game. I wanted answers as to why we would never win away from home. From the day we stepped in there, I knew what the problems were and this should be history. We need just a few more friendly games away,†Williamson added after the game played on an artificial turf Khartoum Stadium.
The Scot is particularly sure Cranes’ match-winner in Sudan Brian Umony has all the qualities needed of a complete forward.
“Umony was fantastic. He took his chances well. That’s what you need of a striker,†Williamson stated of the forward, who has nine Cranes’ career goals to his name so far.
“I have seen upcoming strikers but I can tell you that Umony is something different and something special,†Cranes deputy coach and former star Jackson Mayanja stated.
Williamson fielded a changed Cranes side from the team that won the CECAFA Challenge Cup, with five youngsters introduced in the side in the shape of goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge, a new central defence pairing of Jimmy Mukubya and Musa Doka, and attacking players Simon Sserunkuma and Emma Okwi.
The five adjusted perfectly into Williamson’s vibrant established side and the Scot could find himself spoilt for choice when the real Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign curtains open in 2010.
“This team did me proud. They knew what to do and when and that’s what I needed. We were mature, we can only improve,†added an excited Williamson.