Despite being the most feared team and record CECAFA cup winners with 11 titles, the Cranes performance in the group stages of this tournament have so far been low. Against Zanzibar in their opener, they luckily won 2-1 and the disorganisation in defence was evident as we conceded an equaliser at the beginning of the second half yet we were not putting away our chances.
Though we came back strong
against minnows Somalia in our second game, the Cranes didn’t play that free flowing football and creativity was low despite finding the back of the net on four occassions. The biggest winner of the day however was striker Emma Okwi who bagged a hat trick but the over all performance of the team was below par.
Lady luck ran out against a well organised Burundi side that pipped Uganda 1-0 in the final group game. The Cranes played their worst football on the day. Custodian Robert Odonkara who stood in for injured Abel Dhaira looked shaky and his game reading was calamitous. Patrick Ochan and Musa Mudde lost control of the midfield while Emma Okwi looked off colour. Mike Mutyaba who has so far had three bad games offered less on the day.
Against Zimbabwe today in the quarter finals, Andy Mwesigwa and Abel Dhaira who return from suspension and injury respectively must command the back line effectively. Tonny Mawejje must stamp his authority in the middle of the park while lead striker Emma Okwi should put away even the slightest of chances. Bobby should start St. George winger Sula Matovu on the left ahead of Mike Mutyaba who is having a bad tourney at the moment. Cranes’ best players so far Mike Sserumaga and Dan Wagaluka must maintain their form that have seen them net a goal and two respectively. Unless this is done, the cranes risk being dumped out at the quarter final stage.