Even Zambia will feel the pressure, coach insists

Uganda flattered to deceive when they needed to score just one goal while keeping a clean sheet in the goalless draw with Kenya last year to qualify.

Heading into that definitive 2012 Nations Cup qualifier, Bobby Williamson’s Cranes had easily plundered five goals in the opening two home games against Angola (3-0) and Guinea Bissau (2-0) but that counted for nothing in the end. And going into next weekend’s colossal affair, in which Uganda need to beat African champions, Zambia, by a two-goal margin to be certain of qualification to next year’s finals in South Africa, the pressure is on again.

The 35 years of being absent from Africa’s major soccer bonanza are weighing heavily on Ugandans, just as the heat is on Fufa and Bobby to go past this ever present barrier.
The same could be said of Zambia. Not that they have also spent three decades in limbo.

But because their entire country demands that they must be in South Africa to defend the title. That failure of a defending champion to qualify would tantamount to a criminal offense only equal to a driver forgetting how to drive.

So does Zambia’s weight of expectation lessen pressure on the Cranes? “I don’t really think so,” disagreed Bobby, who is working with his players daily at Namboole to ensure they get their act together in time, “They’ve got a goal. “Thankfully they have shown us a lot of respect. They know we are a good team and that can trouble them. “And pressure is always on, on both sides.

Especially if you are representing a big nation as Uganda. You have over 30 million Ugandans who always want to win football matches.” The Scot, who has been in Cranes business since 2008, added: “Unfortunately we disappointed them when we failed to beat Kenya. Up to now I don’t understand why Kenya decided to play the way they did.”

Kenya did more of defending than attacking the Cranes on their last visit here but could have hurt Uganda when Dennis Oliech broke free only to squander his chance midway the game.

“I don’t expect the Zambians to play that way,” argued Bobby, “I think they will come and have a go.

“We are gonna try and attack them at the same time make sure we don’t concede because if we concede it will be an uphill task. But we also know that not many teams score a lot of goals against them (Zambia). But we know we have goals in us.”

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Cranes squad
Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns), Abel Dhaira (IBV), Hamza Muwonge (Vipers)
Defenders: Simeon Masaba (URA), Godfrey Walusimbi (Vipers), Henry Kalungi (Carolina), Denis Guma (Victoria), Andy Mwesigwa (FC Ordabasy), Habib Kavuma (free), Isaac Isinde (St George), Edward Ssali (Vipers)
Midfielders: Hassan Wasswa (free), Sula Matovu (Iraq), Mike Sserumaga (Proline), Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito, Moses Oloya (Saigon XT), Tonny Mawejje (IBV), Patrick Ochan (TP Mazembe), Dan Wagaluka (free), Chrizestom Ntambi (NaviBank), Musa Mudde (free)
Strikers: Brian Umony (KCCA - loan), Geoffrey Massa (Yenicami), Emmanuel Okwi (Simba), Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza (Yanga), Robert Ssentongo (URA)

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