How will Kayongo fit in the Cranes team?

Wednesday:

Congo Brazzavile v Uganda

 

When Martin Kayongo Mutumba kicked a ball about as a teenage boy on the parish fields of Stockholm, he had two dreams.

 

The first was turning professional which he did after signing a lucrative deal with Swedish side AIK, and second was represent Uganda or Sweden in a major tournament.

At 4.15pm yesterday, the 26 year-old edged close to completing his second dream after formalising his registration as a dual citizen.

 

The mercurial midfielder, who travelled on his Swedish passport with the rest of the team to Congo on Monday morning, secured a Ugandan passport (No. BO928329) and what is left is how Cranes coach Bobby Williamson will utilize his qualities in tomorrow’s Nations Cup qualifier against Congo Brazzavile.

 

Mutumba’s technical abilities will make him a precious commodity in the Cranes set-up in Brazzavile, more so in an attack that will be deprived of experience following the retirement of David Obua and ill-timed withdrawal of Geoffrey Massa.

“He is good but I need a couple of more training sessions to know how best to use him but that should not be a problem,” Williamson stated of the midfielder earlier.

 

The one thing though that was obvious in his first session with the team in Njeru on Sunday, was his superb first touch and abilities to start in wide positions and drift into the centre of the pitch.

If Mutumba does start tomorrow, it will be interesting to see how Williamson deploys him.

 

In Brazzavile, Williamson might still opt for the 4-2-3-1 formation he deployed during the 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau last year, with Mutumba stationed alongside Mike Sserumaga and Dan Wagaluka behind Brian Umony or Emma Okwi.

 

Down the years, the Cranes have been blessed with two holding midfielders (Tony Mawejje and Mudde Musa) but few or no player with extraordinary strength and ability to dribble their way into the opposition through the central axis.

 

Mutumba’s low centre of gravity will enable him twist and turn quickly, drive away from opponents in confined spaces with his explosive pace if played in the team’s central attacking position.

 

His agility also makes him the right candidate to resolve Cranes’ troubles on the left, where Steven Bengo and Mike Mutyaba have both struggled to fit.

 

If Mutumba does start on the left, he will have the ability to beat defenders with embarrassing ease. His dexterous footwork enables him to manoeuvre the ball quickly before dropping his shoulder to create a yard of space when there appears to be none.

 

The key is pairing him with the correct full-back. Mutumba comes into the centre of the pitch so quickly that he needs someone constantly overlapping to stretch the opposition, and widen the gaps for him to drift through. Godfrey Walusimbi, who is fortunately used to playing a short passing game, might help him.