BETRAYED by a persistent inability make major competitions (Nations Cup and World Cup), the Uganda Cranes once again find their international credibility on the loose.
They head into their first Nations Cup qualifying assignment in the knowledge that the qualifiers could be the last attempt for several of the team’s squad members.
They will march into the Mandela football cathedral aware that this is meant to be their best possible opportunity of redeeming the pride that faded with the failure to qualify for the previous 2010 World/Nations Cup qualifiers.
The one thing about the current group of footballers is that they all have their personal ambitions, every single one of them. They certainly want to do well for their families, for their fans and their country. But the hurdle today will only be negotiated if the following commandments are done:
1. Turn Mandela Stadium in a theatre of hell.
While, the European football federation (Uefa) decided to impose a stadium ban on the vuvuzela for the qualifiers currently under way, soccer governing body FUFA has given the long plastic trumpet a blessing for today’s game.
So lets blow them, till will drop.
It’s far more acceptable than the foul-mouthed chants you often get at football matches here.
2. Then Bobby will be left to choose the right tactics. Of course, the Scot knows the skeleton of his first team, but must find the right formation as not all players are comfortable with all.
While Wasswa will be Williamson’s preferred choice in his relished conventional midfield, much will depend on whether he wants to assume a cautious approach or all-out attacking approach.
If it’s a cautious strategy (4-5-1), Wasswa and Mude Musa will be serious candidates, with Tony Mawejje seated at the apex and Massa played as a lone striker.
If it’s the all-out (4-3-3), then Sserunkuuma might just start alongside Massa.
That’s all personal assumption.
3. Select the right players “It’s a difficult job but I have no concerns. It’s you (the media) that will have concerns about the depth available and not me. I know my team.
All the guys (24 players in camp) have done well and will stay with me until match day,” Williamson said on Thursday. The team’s strength in depth was augmented by David Obua’s confession that he did know whether he would start.
4. Make tactical adjustments Throughout the game, Williamson will have to chose a game plan and stick to it. His supreme confidence will have to pervade the entire side. He must keep his charges in line without tinkering unnecessarily.
5. Squeeze a result Long ball or not, the Cranes will have to in position to implement any approach. If Angola come to defend, go for broke, if they decide to be physical lets do it. We have members capable of executing that, Geoffrey Massa and Andrew Mwesigwa among them.
6. Obua is a must on the pitch Why should we treat the opportunity of having a half-fit Obua on the pitch as golden?
To start with, Cranes is Obua. He is the brand of the team.
He is one of the most creative and influential players in the Cranes team and has matured into a player with outstanding ability.
The kind he displayed with a three-goal match winning performance against Niger in the 2010 Nations Cup qualifying campaigns, despite joining the team a few hours to midnight the previous night, with fitness concerns.
7. Massa must perform The Egypt-based striker has been labeled average.
But in the previous campaign, he hadn’t played that many games due to injury problems.
He returns for the Angola assignment fit and sharper.
Does someone remember that Massa that almost inspired Uganda to qualification glory against Benin with a memorable brace –and that with the his new-found heading qualities that had been labeled poor.
He will continue to be an important figure tomorrow –just as when he was against Nigeria.
Today, Cranes will need pace and power and he does both for 90 minutes. Cranes will need a character that irritates defenders with a shove here, an elbow there and the trickery to win you that penalty when the going goes tough.
8. Frustrate Mabina’s rampaging runs Not many know Geoffrey Walusimbi. Not many know how Cranes’ smallest player can be the biggest during play.
You’ll know him today.
Sometimes the ball goes past him. Sometimes the man goes past him. But rarely do the two go past together.
It’s on these steely qualities on which the Cranes will be dependent in trying to suffocate Angola’s rampaging defensive-cum-attacking midfielder Jose Alberto Mabina and Gilbert on the right.
9. Give more attention to the new entrants in the team
