Laffor to Onyango: Don’t expect presidential treat

Meanwhile, strikers Brian Umony, Hamis Kiiza and Daniel Sserunkuma have been left out of the Liberian trip this Friday morning (1am) with coach Bobby saying “I picked what I think are the best players for the job and the guys not included will be considered for the next qualifying games in June.”

KAMPALA

The best prelude was given by the leader of the Liberian team, the veteran of the Lone Stars.
Anthony Laffor of Mamelodi Sundown once played with Dennis Onyango at SuperSport United. They are again together at Sundowns. But on Sunday when Liberia host Uganda in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Laffor will try to make Onyango look as bad as he can get and the Cranes goalkeeper will also try to frustrate the Lone Stars’ striker and company to his best.

And before Onyango departed South Africa, Laffor didn’t mince words, his message envisaging what has been proverbial for Uganda on West Africa travels. “Before I left their captain Laffor told me not to expect it easy,” said Onyango after Cranes training at Namboole yesterday. “He told me that ‘of course we are not gonna (sic) treat you like presidents.’ So we need to be strong mentally.”

Onyango was referring to the well documented talk of visiting teams’ suspect treatment in West Africa, where Uganda have won only once, a 1-0 victory in Guinea Bissau in 2011. “It’s tough because in West Africa they don’t treat you well as a visiting team. So it’s kind of frustrating to play against them but we’ve experienced that in a long time and we’ve tried to get the result in previous campaigns in West Africa.

Hopeful
“So I think we can get the result. We just need to believe and stay focused because whatever happens on the pitch is different from what happens off it.” Uganda have previously complained of hosts in West Africa playing delaying tactics at airports, booking them into uncomfortable hotels, and at times lodging them into those far away from match venue.

Uganda trail table leaders Senegal, who are on four points, by two and face a Liberian side that lost 3-1 to Senegal and drew 1-1 at home with Angola, the same Palancas Negras side Cranes held in Luanda in the pool’s first game.

“Playing against Angola I think maybe they (Liberia) got extra motivated but they may not be that motivated against Uganda because they believe we are an average team, they believe they can get the result against us. That could play to our advantage.”

amwanguhya@ug.nationmedia.com