Familiar foes as Cranes, Palancas Negras clash

The two sides brazen out this afternoon at Namboole as familiar foes. They are quite knowledgeable about each other’s weaknesses and strengths.
Since 1996, Uganda and Angola have had their own spats with the Southern Africa side winning three times against Cranes’ two, losing two against three, and drawing twice. On that front, it is coach Gustavo Ferrin’s Angola with one over Milutin Micho Sredojevic’s Uganda.

But while the Cranes will be intent on leveling scores, they will be hoping to keep on top of Angola going by the recent duels at Namboole, where the Palancas Negras have lost 3-1 and 3-0 in the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Afcon qualifiers.

But skipper Andy Mwesigwa, scorer in both two previous victories, is warning against complacency. “This is a totally different Angola team with new players,” said Mwesigwa, “So it will not be that easy. But we are at home and we will try our best.” Gustavo, the Angola coach, has also admitted that anything but a win in Kampala will end their hopes of progress.

Execution
Micho also knows the task at hand and is looking to execution on the day rather than Brazil, for now. “We are telling the players to go enjoy themselves, relax their mind so that express themselves,” Micho said. “We have managed to get five points and that is a great achievement for us, we must take one game at a time.”

Micho is likely to return Henry Kalungi to partner Mwesigwa in central defence at the expense of Isaac Isinde, who started against Liberia, while the race for fitness for goalkeeper Denis Onyango was still on by press time. One of Robert Odongkara, who kept a clean sheet against Liberia last weekend, and Abel Dhaira will take over the gloves should Micho and goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba decree Onyango’s niggling knee is not fit for the game.

Geoffrey Baba Kizito, Hassan Wasswa and Tonny Mawejje will most likely keep their places in the midfield while Martin Mutumba, who put in an impressive cameo in the second half against the Lone Stars, could take over Kizito Luwagga’s role on the left midfield.
With Emmanuel Okwi unlikely to recover from an ankle injury in time, Gor Mahia’s Daniel Sserunkuma, going by training, seems destined to beat Hamis Kiiza and Robert Ssentongo to a partnering role alongside Geoffrey Massa in attack.

Uganda will have to keep watch of striker Guilherme Afonso, who scored in the 1-1 draw with Senegal. Others are Fabricio Mafuta, Adwa Mokanga and Jose Pedro Alberto.

FIFA RANKINGS

Uganda – 93
Angola - 91

CRANES PROBABLE TEAM
Robert Odongkara, Godfrey Walusimbi, Denis Guma, Henry Kalungi, Andy Mwesigwa, Hassan Wasswa, Baba Kizito, Tonny Mawejje, Martin Mutumba, Daniel Sserunkuma, Geoffrey Massa
SUBS: Onyango, Dhaira, Nicholas Wadada, Isaac Isinde, Hamis Kiiza, Joseph Mpande, Robert Ssentongo, Emmanuel Okwi, Joseph Ochaya, Savio Kabugo, Ali Kimera, Saidi Kyeyune, Boban Zirintusa