Cranes should respect Ghana, but must compete - Masaba

Afcon 2015 qualifiers
September 5: Ghana vs Uganda
September 10: Uganda vs Guinea
October 11: Uganda vs Togo
October 15: Togo vs Uganda
November 15: Uganda vs Ghana
November 19: Guinea vs Uganda

KAMPALA

Since the late Paul Hasule handed him his debut against Rwanda in 2003, Simeon Masaba’s discipline on and off the pitch has seen few rivals. He could be accused of being frank, perhaps; but not big-headed. The URA and former Cranes right full back is your model footballer. He has - with the same discipline - patrolled that right flank for a decade; a few quality deliveries and an occasional goal popping up.

Well, until early last year when former Bobby Williamson dropped him for his successor Dennis Guma ahead of a World Cup qualifier away to Liberia. Although Masaba has never officially announced his retirement from international duty, the ideal world suggests he is done.

But Masaba remains a strong fan of the Cranes, and believes Micho Sredojevic’s men start their group stage qualification to next year’s Orange Africa Cup of Nations away to Ghana on September 5 with a good chance of getting a result.

“The pressure is on Ghana,” he argues, “They are at home; they have everything to lose. That allows us to play our game.” Now in his early 30s, Masaba played all 90 minutes the last time Uganda travelled to Ghana for a competitive fixture.

Then on September 4, 2005, two quick-fire goals from Michael Essien and Matthew Amoah (10, 15) left Cranes dazed, and despite a 1-1 draw earlier in Kampala, Uganda still finished last out of six teams in Group 2 of the 2006 World Cup qualification. “I think we didn’t stick to our game plan,” Masaba reveals, “We were supposed to keep it compact but we lost concentration and somehow opened up.

“We then conceded the first goal, a header and the next. But we stuck to the game plan in the second half and didn’t concede. While we shall need to score in Ghana, we shall need to be focused throughout the game.”

Dennis Onyango, Andrew Mwesigwa, Tonny Mawejje and Geoffrey Massa are the only survivors from that 2005 team likely to line up against Gyan Asamoah’s side. Masaba believes them, together with the new players, should not be fazed by the star-studded Black Stars. “They shouldn’t worry about the stars,” he says, “Those are the kind of games you need to prove them wrong.

“Yes we should respect them because they are playing at home but we should not fear them. We should challenge them on the pitch.” Micho is expected to announce his training plans this week.

Last competitive trip to Ghana
04/9/2005: Fifa World Cup Qualifiers, Ghana 2-0 Uganda
LINE UPS
Ghana: Sammy Adjei, John Mensah, Issah Gabriel Ahmed, Emmanuel Pappoe, John Pantsil, Michael Essien (Abubakar Yahuza ‘63), Laryea Kingson (Mohammed Hamza ‘53), Stephan Appiah, Matthew Amoah, Frimpong Asamoah (Isaac Boakye ‘37), Daniel Edusei
Uganda: Denis Onyango, Timothy Batabaire, Simeon Masaba, Andrew Mwesigwa, Ssegawa Lawrence, Noah Kasule, Tony Mawejje (Vincent Kayizzi’67), Emmanuel Balyejjusa, Stephen Nsereko, Geoffrey Massa, Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Martin Muwanga ‘55)
Previous visits to Ghana
18/3/1978: Afcon final, Ghana 2-0 Uganda
22/6/2003: Afcon Qlfrs, Ghana 1-1 Uganda
03/7/2004: Fifa World Cup Qlfrs Uganda 1-1 Ghana
04/9/2005: Fifa World Cup Qlfrs, Ghana 2-0 Uganda
31/5/2009: Friendly, Ghana 2-1 Uganda
Overall head-to-head
Both teams have faced off 10 times, Ugan da winning just twice, losing six times, and drawing on two occasions.

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