How to redeem Cranes fortunes

Have always felt football, in its primordial state, is an art. It’s only when tactics and organisation are introduced that the game becomes a science. I think it’s the principal explanation why DR Congo is a better footballing nation than Uganda.

It’s also the reason Brazil have won five World Cups whereas England, inventors of the game, have only won the trophy once.

Anyone who watched DR Congo’s match on Tuesday night will testify to this. The Simbas danced and sung their way into the stadium. This will never happen in Uganda! They are artists, and we are not.

DR Congo is a better footballing nation than Uganda (two Nations Cup titles, World Cup appearance and seven African club titles) for the same reason they have more worldwide music stars than Ugandans.
The spontaneity with which Pepe Kale, Madilu System, Tshala Muana or Awilo Longomba compose world class music hits is similar to the quickness with which Firmin Mubele or Junior Kabananga beats a defender.

A Mubele dribble and run is not dissimilar to a Longomba queen dancer inventing a waist-wiggling Ndombolo dance stroke.

Testament to passion
You can transplant the same analogy to Brazil and England. The inventors of Samba and Tango just dance their way past opponents. Remember the Ronaldinho wiggle before he toe-poked home for Barcelona against Chelsea in the Champions League.
That could not have been taught.

It was pure Samba. Always be on the look out for teams with choreographed goal celebrations. They are a testament to passion and skill.

For example, DR Congo had the Weka Fimbo goal celebration in honour of some dance artist whose name I forget. Such celebrations are usually the preserve of title winning teams. The games’ evolution into a science is the reason both Italy and Germany have won four World Cup titles.

Uganda’s case
Which takes me back to Uganda. We are a nation of serious people. At least we have the pretensions.
Only problem is, in our need for football success, we have gotten too serious and taken the pleasure out of the game. At this year’s Nations Cup, Uganda were together with Guinea Bissau and Zimbabwe in the category of outsiders.

But our colleagues have left the tournament after making a very positive impression whereas we have not. Both Guinea Bissau (3) and Zimbabwe (4) scored goals aplenty and played captivating attacking football while we could not get out of our shells.

I cannot recall any Uganda Cranes players making the kind of dribble and run that resulted in Robert Piquet scoring Guinea Bissau’s goal against Cameroon.

Matter of fact, no Cranes player has scored such a goal for two decades! If we are to take our place in the comity of top footballing nations, our coaches must nurture players who express themselves and play with the joy of a Kwasa Kwasa queen dancer. Otherwise, as things stand we are neither football artists, nor scientists.

Scientific football requires power, organisation, attention to detail plus an unquenchable desire for constant improvement. These are the basics needed to make Uganda a football powerhouse.