Police Duty
Apr 24, 2003
GARGANTUAN doesn’t accurately describe the task confronting debutantes Police as they prepare to engage El Mehalla in the Cup Winners Cup second leg encounter today.
By Joseph Opio & Norman Katende
Cup Winners Cup
Police v El Mehalla
Tomorrow
CAF Cup
Express v Green Buffaloes
GARGANTUAN doesn’t accurately describe the task confronting debutantes Police as they prepare to engage El Mehalla in the Cup Winners Cup second leg encounter today.
Police have to overhaul the three-goal cushion possessed by the seasoned Egyptian campaigners courtesy of the savage 4-1 reception they were accorded to continental football a fortnight ago.
Police tactician, Paul Hasule defiantly intends to retain faith in his 4-4-2 playing format which was tested and found abundantly wanting in the corresponding fixture in Cairo.
Whilst pundits contend it will take a miracle of Biblical proportions to overturn this enormous advantage, Hasule remains unruffled by the task at hand.
“They managed to score four in Egypt and we can also manage that. More crucially, we even snatched a precious away-goal.â€
Hasule, whose squad has been camped at Namboole, has been forced by circumstances into an attack-minded mode and will rely on the goal-scoring exploits of Geoffrey Sserunkuma to author a seemingly improbable chapter of success at Namboole.
Sserunkuma, the away-goal hero in Cairo, carries the unenviable Messiah’s mantle alongside Simeon Masaba, arguably the most potent weapon in Hasule’s armoury.
“Masaba and (David) Iga suffered knocks during training but we expect both to be ready for the game. The former will be extremely crucial in our search for goals.â€
Hasule intends to switch the versatile Cranes defender from his customary rearguard role to a more advanced right-wing position.
“He played there well for the Cranes against Rwanda and I expect the same from him, or even better.â€
Mehalla chairman, Ahmed Kadous however thinks his side’s experience will puncture Hasule’s watertight strategy.
Kadous said that Mehalla would counter Police’s attacking tendencies with their own offensive abilities which he insists will prevail.
“We’ll play to win. Complacency and all-out defending are out of the question. We intend to play like we’re the ones at a disadvantage.â€
The clash will be free to women and students while media and security personnel with identity cards will pay a subsidised sh1000 for entry.
WITH just a day to their continental encounter against Zambia’s Green Buffaloes, coach Jan Fray has been left pondering the next move as midfielders Cox Muleyi and Peter Rwebuga seem unlikely to feature in the encounter.
“Rwebuga has malaria and Muleyi has injured his right foot making it difficult for us to find a rhythm. We need a strong midfield but this will force us to change our partnership,†said technical director Jan Fray.
The club was due to train at Wankulukuku yesterday evening as Green Buffaloes tried the Nakivubo stadium turf.
Fray’s option was to pull defender Bana Zidane in the midfield, where he will combine with Wasswa Bbosa and let Toto Songe fall behind for better results.
“I’m going to test the partnership and see how it works in training but this will all depend on what striking line we will opt for the game.â€
Cup Winners Cup
Police v El Mehalla
Tomorrow
CAF Cup
Express v Green Buffaloes
GARGANTUAN doesn’t accurately describe the task confronting debutantes Police as they prepare to engage El Mehalla in the Cup Winners Cup second leg encounter today.
Police have to overhaul the three-goal cushion possessed by the seasoned Egyptian campaigners courtesy of the savage 4-1 reception they were accorded to continental football a fortnight ago.
Police tactician, Paul Hasule defiantly intends to retain faith in his 4-4-2 playing format which was tested and found abundantly wanting in the corresponding fixture in Cairo.
Whilst pundits contend it will take a miracle of Biblical proportions to overturn this enormous advantage, Hasule remains unruffled by the task at hand.
“They managed to score four in Egypt and we can also manage that. More crucially, we even snatched a precious away-goal.â€
Hasule, whose squad has been camped at Namboole, has been forced by circumstances into an attack-minded mode and will rely on the goal-scoring exploits of Geoffrey Sserunkuma to author a seemingly improbable chapter of success at Namboole.
Sserunkuma, the away-goal hero in Cairo, carries the unenviable Messiah’s mantle alongside Simeon Masaba, arguably the most potent weapon in Hasule’s armoury.
“Masaba and (David) Iga suffered knocks during training but we expect both to be ready for the game. The former will be extremely crucial in our search for goals.â€
Hasule intends to switch the versatile Cranes defender from his customary rearguard role to a more advanced right-wing position.
“He played there well for the Cranes against Rwanda and I expect the same from him, or even better.â€
Mehalla chairman, Ahmed Kadous however thinks his side’s experience will puncture Hasule’s watertight strategy.
Kadous said that Mehalla would counter Police’s attacking tendencies with their own offensive abilities which he insists will prevail.
“We’ll play to win. Complacency and all-out defending are out of the question. We intend to play like we’re the ones at a disadvantage.â€
The clash will be free to women and students while media and security personnel with identity cards will pay a subsidised sh1000 for entry.
“Rwebuga has malaria and Muleyi has injured his right foot making it difficult for us to find a rhythm. We need a strong midfield but this will force us to change our partnership,†said technical director Jan Fray.
The club was due to train at Wankulukuku yesterday evening as Green Buffaloes tried the Nakivubo stadium turf.
Fray’s option was to pull defender Bana Zidane in the midfield, where he will combine with Wasswa Bbosa and let Toto Songe fall behind for better results.
“I’m going to test the partnership and see how it works in training but this will all depend on what striking line we will opt for the game.â€