Captain Onyango leaps to coach Desabre’s defence
Onyango insists tat Desabre needs more time with Cranes. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
KAMPALA- Cranes captain Denis Onyango says the nation should not even think it; talking about getting a new coach of the Uganda national football team.
There have been murmurs over Sebastien Desabre’s start as Cranes coach after the Frenchman won just once in his first nine matches. Only three of those were competitive - at Chan - and Desabre has been consistent saying to achieve his desired style of football, a little patience is necessary as he juggles formations to solve his puzzle.
But on a day after the Frenchman was quoted in Monday’s Daily Monitor saying “Let the real assessment come in September against Tanzania and October against Lesotho,” his predecessor Micho Sredojevic unleased a tirade. “Please, let your coach try to win nine away competitive matches in Africa like I did in my spell or at least let him make result against teams that will represent Africa at the World Cup,” challenged Micho in a missive.
“We beat Nigeria 0-1 in Nigeria, we drew Senegal 0-0 in Senegal,” added the Orlando Pirates coach, “Both of those teams are going to World Cup and Uganda is not going because I am not there to take you to World Cup as you refused to go there forcing me to go.”
But while appearing on Monday Night’s NTV Press Box, Micho’s former Cranes captain - a close friend of the Serbian - disagreed sharply with the ex-Uganda coach.
“Let’s give him (Desabre) time,” advised Onyango, the Cranes goalkeeper and captain.
“That is Micho’s opinion but as Ugandans we should stick with what we have. We can’t be talking of getting another coach now. “Coach Desabre’s main aim is to take us to Cameroon 2019 (and 2022 Qatar World Cup) and the qualifiers haven’t resumed yet.
“We have Tanzania in September (and back-to-back encounters with Lesotho in October and Cape Verde at home in November). Let’s support the coach.”
Micho’s rant came on the back of Uganda’s two defeats to CAR and Niger in the just ended camp in Niamey.
“Now they are losing to Central Africa and Niger countries that can’t clean shoes to Nigeria and Senegal,” wrote the Serb. “Anyhow I will still 200 percent support Fufa, coach and specially players to move on highway to Afcon 2019 we have opened by winning 0-1 In Cape Verde, meaning that qualification where two teams from group go is so obvious.”
Special Onyango
Elsewhere, the Mamelodi Sundowns superstar, Onyango revealed he “grew up idolising Sadiq Wassa.”
One of Uganda’s best ever goalkeepers, Onyango - who grew up listening to radio commentary of his heroics - believes Wassa “is for me a legend.”
On his feats of being Africa’s best player (based in Africa) and goalkeeper of 2016, Onyango feels honoured.
“Happy to be among the best,” he said, “To finish in the top three alone is an honour for me, to have won it, even better. “We make believe that anything in football is possible. No one gave chance to a goalkeeper to win this award.”
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2019 QUALIFIERS
September 7: Uganda vs. Tanzania
October 10: Uganda vs. Lesotho
October 13: Lesotho vs. Uganda
November 16: Uganda vs. Cape Verde
March 22, 2019: Tanzania vs. Uganda
