Cranes legend says team have punched above their weight

KAMPALA- To him, the Uganda Cranes team in South Africa have ably represented the country in the African Nations Championship (Chan).

The former Uganda Cranes defender, Tom Lwanga, reckons that for a team that went into the home based players’ tournament as clear underdogs, the Cranes - heading into last night’s final group game in which Micho Sredojevic’s side wanted just a point off Morocco to progress, have achieved.

“I’m very impressed with them,” Lwanga, who won three Super League titles and Uganda Cups with KCC in the 70s and 80s, told Daily Monitor yesterday.
“They have done a great job and no doubt they have punched above their weight. “They went there when no one gave them a chance. Many thought they were tourists there and that must also have motivated them.”

Lwanga, who helped Uganda reach the final of the 1978 Nations Cup, losing it 2-0 to Ghana, added: “And tonight (last night) we have a good chance against Morocco. The boys have got to be cautious and if we get that needed result we shall be fine.”

Having beaten Burkina Faso 2-1 in the opener, Yunus Sentamu netting a brace, and drawn goalless with Zimbabwe, the Cranes went into last night’s meeting with Morocco needing just a point and care less about the result between the Burkinabe and Warriors to progress.

ABOUT TOM LWANGA

• He won three league titles with KCC (1976, 1977 & 1985) and two Uganda Cup titles (1984 & 1987).
• He won two league titles as KCC coach (1991 & 1997) and one Uganda Cup (1990).
• He won two Cecafa Cups with Uganda (1976 & 1977) and played in two Nations Cup tournaments (1976 & 1978).
• His Cranes career lasted seven years
• He holds an “A” licence in Football Coaching and Management.
• He handled three teams (KCC, Coffee and Parliamentarians)

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