Cranes' maturity, wealth of talent headed for bright future

By Fred Kaweesi

When Zambian legend Kalusha Bwalya returned to his home country soon after a nerve-wrecking trip to Kampala, he immediately tweeted: “If there is a country in Africa that deserved to be at the Africa Nations Cup [Afcon], it’s Uganda, a really good side (that is) very competitive and (tough).

Bwalya is one of few African soccer legends still alive. Also known as ‘Kalu’, he is Zambia’s most capped player, all-time top goal scorer second to only Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu.

He was named African Footballer of the Year in 1988 and was a nominee for the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year where he was voted the 12th-best player on the globe.

His footballing background and knowledge speaks volumes, the more reason his assessment of the Uganda Cranes team deserved serious attention.

Kalusha watched Cranes over two legs and his assessment of the team that lost out 9-8 in the resultant shoot-out, was of a side rich in talent, depth and maturity which is indeed true!

When the Cranes were humiliated in the Africa Nations Championships in Sudan last year, I suggested an overhaul of the team that had taken part in that local-based players’ championship.

A majority of the players in the squad had proved ‘nearly men’ and not good enough to feed the mainstream Cranes side that was meant to kickstart a transition.

The likes of Simon Sserunkuuma, Owen Kasule, Steven Bengo, Caesar Okhuti, Tony Odur continued to struggle to make any significant contribution with the Cranes despite year of being considered for national duty.

What Cranes needed were players with mental strength to deal with tough challenges. Players who go to any stadium and think ‘I like this, I want more of it’ not ‘Oh my god, get me out of here’.

Cranes needed players who had no fear in their eyes; the team needed those big players with lion-hearts to perform in any international cauldron.

 Although the team’s last two campaigns have ended in abject misery, I can safely say that the above are promising attributes I saw during Cranes’ 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau in Bissau, in the 1-1 draw against Angola in Luanda and the 1-0 defeat to Zambia in Ndola.

There is considerable maturity in the team now and the age bracket in all areas of the squad points to a bright future.

In goal

At 27 years, Denis Onyango is still young but has gathered enough continental experience to retain his place on the team with Abbey Dhaira a more than capable deputy off the bench.

 Dhaira is just 25 years and would start for any side on the continent.

It’s extremely painful that such talent will inevitably remain on the bench as goalkeepers can only be switched for form and fitness reasons.

In the Iceland league last season, Dhaira was named IBV’s player of the season a sign of tremendous career growth.

How about Robert Odongkara? This 23-year-old has become a cult figure at Ethiopia giants St George FC and just like Dhaira, would start in goal anywhere with immense success.

 Defenders

Although Cranes back-four of Simeon Masaba, Godfrey Walusimbi, Henry Kalungi and Andrew Mwesigwa has grown in stature, there has also been remarkable improvement in reserve defenders Denis Guma, Isaac Isinde and Ivan Bukenya to guarantee substantial cover for the only two veterans in the team; Masaba and Mwesigwa.

Left-back Walusimbi is just 23 but has shown maturity  beyond his years.

Zambian striker Jaco  Mulenga labelled Walusimbi ‘World Class’ after hi  impressive display in Ndola and if all goes well, the Vipers full back will seal a move to a European club during the January transfer window.

When Kalungi made his first competitive debut during Cranes’ 3-1 humiliating defeat to Congo Brazzaville in March, there were doubts as to whether the Richmond Kickers’ defender was the right candidate to occupy Ibrahim Sekagya’s boots.

Sekagya is irreplaceable but what Kalungi has done is devote extra time in training to improve his game and the results were evident in his superb display against Zambia.

Bukenya would equally step in ahead of Kalungi and perform to expectation.

The 20-year-old has impressed in the on-going Asia Champions League with his Iraq side Erbil and was integral in their run to the semi-final stages.

Then there is Isinde and Guma.

The forthcoming CECAFA Challenge Cup will be the perfect platform to hone the two defenders, whose average age is 23.

Guma can play at right-back or central defence while Isinde, despite his pint size, is so intelligent and has excelled as a man-marker at Ethiopian side St George.

Midfielders

In the just concluded campaign, Cranes have adopted a more attacking approach with two 19-year-olds Moses Oloya and Godfrey Kizito mushrooming at the expense of previous first team stars such as Mike Sserumaga and Dan Wagaluka.

 Gone are the days when both Tony Mawejje and Mudde Musa assumed automatic first team roles. Although Mawejje has managed to fight his way into the team, Mudde has found problems displacing both Hassan Wasswa and youngster Kizito. Kizito’s use of the ball has not only been masterful, his tackling and movement have infused the rest of the team with urgency going forward.

If you consider the form of 20-year old Portugal-based midfielder Luwagga Kizito, who has scored five goals in five outings for Leixoes, Sula Matovu, Chrizestom Ntambi and (yes) Martin Mutumba, you will simply appreciate the abundance of riches available for consideration in future.

Strikers

Cranes normally opt for a two-man attack, going with either two strikers playing side by side (Geoffrey Massa and Brian Umony or Emma Okwi), or a lone frontman (Massa) with the other forward playing just behind him.

Hamis Kiiza top scored in the Tanzanian league last season just as Robert Ssentongo, so his presence on the bench simply emphasizes the team’s depth overall and pool of choices in case of suspensions, and injuries ahead of future qualifying campaigns.