A Football team is made up of eleven players, though a fortnight ago URA were able to win the first leg of their Caf Confederations Cup with ten after Jonathan Mugabi’s red card in Namboole.
The 2014 Uganda Cup winners visit Madagascar to take on Elgeco Plus in the return leg. Kawowo Sports’ Clive Kyazze looks at the four attacking options that should help URA protect their 3-2 aggregate.
Brian Bwete-Goalkeeper:
Goalkeeping is the first line of defense, but on the other hand it’s also the first line of attack. URA’s Bwete is much more than that, a shot stopper who is also comfortable with his feet.
Maybe it’s too early to demand that Bwete should be a playing goalkeeper, but he is the kind who can pick up a teammate with ease no matter the latter’s positioning on the field.
But also his drop kick should be able to trouble Elgego’s slow defenders.
Simeone Masaba-Right fullback:
Forget the questions about his age, the older the wine the sweeter it is. Masaab is still the most decent footballer plying his trade on the local scene. Arguably by far the best fullback this country has produced in the last two decades.
His pace no longer favors him, but he knows what to do with the ball once he crosses the centre line. His endless overlaps yielded dividends when Robert Ssentogo scored URA’s second in the first leg.
Masaba was also unlucky not to get onto the score with the set pieces that kept on missing the target by inches. The veteran defender will be key going forward and should be given time to recover by having one the central defenders or holding midfielders cover him.
Feni Ali-Attacking midfielder:
Feni Ali started on the bench in the first leg in Kampala, as the coach Alex Isabirye started with Said Kyeyune and Patrick Ochan in midfield, Ssentogo was the lone striker with Ochan playing behind him.
It wasn’t until Feni came on that URA started breaking down Elgeco Plus’ backline. Feni was involved in all the three goals URA scored assisting two of those, Ssentongo’s first and Frank Kalanda’s winner.
Ochan was omitted from the team that traveled, that should give Feni a starting nod ahead of anyone else in the URA midfielder.
His calmness and ability to exploit spaces in the opponents’ defense should trouble Elgego Plus.
Robert Ssentongo-Striker:
There shouldn’t be any debate on who is the most lethal striker is currently in Uganda. Ssentogo has lived with that tag for years now.
And his double in the first leg was evidence that he only needs half a chance to find the back of net. On two occasions he lifted URA from the jaws of defeat.
And despite his diminutive height, Ssentongo’s movement and pace will always trouble defenders. Bwete can pick him up with that long ball;
Masaba’s accurate crosses can’t be that hard for Ssentogo to conncet with. And Feni’s pinpoint passes from the middle of the park can also make Ssentongo a monster to contain for Elgeco Plus this weekend.
