Cranes set to attack Togo

Oct 15, 2014

When Cranes confront the Sparrow Hawks in their 2015 Nations Cup qualifier return fixture in Lome, the rule will be plain simple. Win and resuscitate the qualifying campaign.

By Fred Kaweesi

Nations Cup qualifier

Wednesday, 6pm

Togo v Uganda

When Cranes confront the Sparrow Hawks in their 2015 Nations Cup qualifier return fixture in Lome, the rule will be plain simple. Win and resuscitate the qualifying campaign.

Lose and literally end interest in next year’s finals. A draw at the Stade de Kegue wouldn’t be bad either but considering the fact that the next qualifiers will come against desperate Ghanaian and Guinea outfits, Togo are probably the ideal platform for a mini-revival.

However, if that is to come to pass, the team’s head tactician Micho Sredojevic will have to rediscover his hitherto celebrated tactical For some reason, the Serbian, who registered a decent start to his tenure as Cranes coach during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers last year, has been wretched in the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers.

If Cranes are to revive their campaign in Lome -which is quite challenging but not impossible -they will have to remain positive. The technical team will have to choose the right tactics, select the right players, and get the best possible performance out of the team in the absence of their suspended captain Andrew Mwesigwa.

The beauty about similar group matches over play-off games is that there is nothing to lose. There is every reason to attack your opponent without necessarily ‘parking a bus’ as all that significantly matters in group games are The Togolese are an entirely different entity at home.

The Sparrow Hawks are quite adventurous and Cranes might be tempted to be cautious. But sometimes you can be too cautious and play straight into the hands of the opposition.

In the aftermath of the team’s training yesterday, Cranes lead striker Geoffrey Massa told New Vision that: “The boys are ready to give their best. The weather is similar to Kampala and we hope it stays that way tomorrow (today).”

Massa and goalkeeper Denis Onyango are the most experienced members in a youthful side, whose average age bracket is 25. Onyango’s experience in particular will prove vital in organising a somewhat inexperienced back-four of Denis Iguma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Isaac Isinde and Savio Kabugo.

There is a possibility that Micho will be tempted to stick with his preferred three-man midfield of Aucho Khalid, Geoffrey Kizio and Tony Mawejje.

If Luwagga Kizito and Moses Oloya retain their roles in the wide areas, then Massa could be played as a lone-striker. It will be interesting to see whether strikers Yunus Ssentamu and Dan Sserunkuuma will play a part and if yes, at what stage of the game.

 Probable line-up: Onyango, Iguma, Walusimbi, Isinde, Kabugo, Aucho, Luwagga, Kizito, Massa, Mawejje, Oloya

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