Cranes should know that it’s not over until it’s over
Golden boy Farouk Miya scored three times in the double-header against Lesotho. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
- EARLY ALERT. Getting one point from a possible six should ideally not be a hard task, but we have seen stranger things happen. The destructive mistake Cranes can make is to try and play for a draw in their next fixture. This will be on November 16 when Cape Verde visit the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole. The islanders have done their best to portray themselves as a chronically indecisive team.
Taken together, Uganda’s recent home and away conquest of Lesotho in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying doubleheader feels redemptive.
Not least for Sébastien Desabre. What could have been a chronicle of exasperation has since become an assertion of the Frenchman’s perseverance.
Cranes fans were starting to feel a gnawing unease that a quiet subversive lay behind the 42-year-old’s silent smile. Not any more. Desabre is currently being lionised as a coach of searing tactical clarity.
Question marks about his ability no longer hang uneasily in the air. It’s amazing what two wins on the bounce can do. For Desabre, they have provided the clearest indication yet that a corner has been turned.
Yet, be that as it may, resting on the proverbial laurels should not be an option. Desabre’s bold amalgamation of old (read experienced) and new players might finally be yielding dividends, but — believe it or not — the Cranes are hardly in the finest of fettle. Getting one point from a possible six should ideally not be a hard task, but we have seen stranger things happen.
The destructive mistake Cranes can make is to try and play for a draw in their next fixture. This will be on November 16 when Cape Verde visit the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole. The islanders have done their best to portray themselves as a chronically indecisive team.
Although they were brilliant in patches away to Tanzania, Mbwana Ali Samatta still had to be at his zestful best to erode gains made in Praia days before.
The Belgian-based forward atoned for a panenka penalty gone wrong with a sublime performance that yield an assist and a scorching finish. Cape Verde, though, were always a threat even if they barely found second gear. This should worry Uganda.
The boundless quality teeming in the ranks of Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks means any attempts to absorb blows before countering could be catastrophic. As will any plan to play for a draw. The Cranes will have to be bold and proactive from the outset.
Thankfully, the team’s captain, Denis Onyango has made it abundantly clear that Uganda will set out to win its final two group fixtures.
Onyango holds that a 16-point tally will give the Cranes a chance to be seeded and hopefully get a favourable draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Only then will a shot at redemption materialise. For now, there’s work to be done for Desabre and company.
What we now know....
We know that national cricket selectors have opted to hand the gloves to Arnold Otwani for the forthcoming ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament.
We also know that Otwani lost the wicket-keeping role to youngster Fred Achelam when Uganda played in the ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament.
While Achelam stood up to spinners admirably well, and contributed with the bat, at times, with some lusty hitting at the death.
But his character and morale in camp lately has been a big area of concern.
This could well be what has cost him a slot on the national team.
