1st Leg 2nd Round Qualifier:
2015 AFCON Championships:
Since 1978, Ugandans have harbored a dream of playing at the finals of the African Cup of Nations. Different qualification campaigns have over the years ended in total agony, tears and inevitable plight.
The roller-coaster of attempts will definitely go on and on with the different administrative regimes, players and inevitably under each varying epoch.
The Morocco 2015 qualification path embarked on a stern test for CECAFA region’s best ranked nation, Uganda (86th as per month of April FIFA/Coca Cola rankings ).
This followed a heart breaking 2 -1 away loss to lowly ranked Indian Ocean Island nation of Madagascar (rated 189th by FIFA in the entire world).
Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye explored the nitty gritty to the shocking yet ‘the obvious’ away Uganda Cranes’ loss in the eyes of many.
Squad Selection:
Various sections of the media were left grumbling as Micho read out the initial 35 players to use for the campaign – singling out Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, a player whose unsolved problems with his club KCC kept him out of competitive club football for close to 5 months.
At the back of his mind, Uganda Cranes head coach, Micho, his assistants (Kefa Kisala and Fred Kajoba plus the entire technical team) will be reflecting on that ‘brave decision’ to summon, later on field a half fit player in Hassan Wasswa.
Prior his involvement in the January 2014 CHAN championships, the combative midfield icon (respect to his workaholic trait once on the soccer turf – which every Ugandan has never doubted) had not played as many competitive games, even for his local club, KCC.
After a foiled move to Vietnam, the dread-locked midfielder trained for the CHAN championships which he played relatively well before sitting out another 2 months off competitive matches as he only trained with URA.
Against the Barea stars on Sunday, Wasswa was a complete shadow of himself, often playing the diagonal passes but none reached the intended destination for the opening stanza of the game.
Little wonder therefore, he was hurriedly replaced by the Soana youthful Francis Olaki at the half time resumption.
True, Wasswa’s issues with the parent club (KCC) are justifiable, he needed the call up for self confidence reasons but never a starting slot ahead of fresh bodies who played competitive football week in, week out.
Absence of key players:
Nature always takes its cause particularly so when a sportsman gets injured, is ruled out for unfitness, ill -discipline or otherwise.
Team Uganda missed several first team players in the game. From Moses Oloya, Brian Omwony, Geofrey Massa, Tonny Mawejje to goal keepers, Robert Odongkara and Onyango, all out for injury, club commitment and personal reasons, Uganda was bound to surely lack the spark.
Believe me or not, Mawejje’s absence made the technical bench opt for a three man defensive midfield, where two or even one blocker would have perfected the task.
The goal keeping predicament was not helped by that away gamble where Vipers’ goal keeper, Ismail Watenga was handed his national team senior debut ahead of the veteran Thika United goal keeper, Hamza Muwonge, who has diligently deputized the role in over a decade now.
Appalling away Record:
Over the years, Uganda Cranes has had a poor away record, winning only twice in now 17 AFCON and world Cup qualification away matches.
Football is played with the belief and the will power to make miracles like Jesus of Nazareth.
Unless, the players develop the mentality of believing that the same Nigeria for instance, beaten at Namboole Stadium can be beaten away, then Uganda Cranes will still struggle on the foreign land.
Under Pressure technical department:
In the run up to the Madagascan match, Micho ‘might’ have felt the pressure that comes forth with media tabloids and criticism.
He declared a ‘media black-out’ to the ‘domestic press’ following an opinion in one of the country’s tabloid that questioned the selection of the 35 players, choice of training game with a FUFA Big league club – The Saints F.C (in which a player, Richard Kassaga is reportedly to have been injured) and methodology of training.
As the team left on Friday morning, another daily, many television and radio stations questioned the pronounced absence of Mujib Kasule, the head of technical issues at the Federation from the traveling contingent.
Timing of Qualifiers:
CAF changed the format of qualification. This campaign started at the end of the season for many nations whereas some others were still playing various competitions.
Tonny Mawejje’s absence from the team could partially be attributed to the busy schedule of his team back in Norway, so is Yunus Sentamu (whose team AS Vita won 2 – 1 on Sunday against Zamalek).
Way Forward:
For the next weeks, various media houses will discuss the match with a critical interest in the tactics, formation, players’ attitude, preparations and later on the result and its implication as the return leg fast approached.
Personally, i call for positive criticism and giving the due credit. We need to seek means on how best Madagascar will fall like many of the African nations have done in the recent past as a stepping stone to improving the appalling away record.
Training should start as soon as possible, lets embrace the campaign and offer the best we can in terms of building the team.
For GOD and my country.