Legendary Mayanja urges Cranes to erase Arab fear factor
What you need to know:
- Saturday fixture
- Ghana vs Mali, 7pm, Stade de Port Gentil
- Egypt vs Uganda, 10pm, Stade de Port Gentil
KAMPALA.
When almost everybody seems to have given in to an imminent Uganda Cranes loss against seven-time Afcon champions Egypt this Saturday, former national team star player and deputy coach Jackson ‘Mia Mia’ Mayanja says it can be mission possible.
Between 1992 and 1995, the stylish forward, arguably one of the best to ever don the national team colours, made his name in the Egyptian league with El-Masry earning the moniker ‘Mia Mia’ for his total commitment since joining from KCC – and he speaks with experience.
“They (Cranes) are capable of getting the results against favourites Egypt but they must do better than the performance against Ghana,” revealed Mayanja, now deputy coach at Tanzanian giants Simba.
His adventure into Arab football later took him to Tunisian giants Esperance before returning in 1996 to spearhead parent club KCCA to the league trophy.
“I don’t entirely know the strength of the Egyptian team right now but Cranes can get positive results because the North African teams have not been doing well recently,” reasoned the former URA, Vipers, KCCA and Kagera coach who deputized former Cranes coaches Bobby Williamson, Laslo Szaba and Muhammad Abbas.
Mayanja, who was part of the Cranes team that miserably lost 6-0 to Egypt in 1996 and also lost to Tunisia in 1999 in his last national team match by the same score line, has cautioned Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic to employ a philosophy that can tame the Arabs’ speedy and tactical game.
“It will be Micho’s decision to either go for two strikers or retain the Farouk Miya and Geoffrey Massa attacking pair.”
Mayanja at a glance
* He won two league titles with KCC FC (1991 and 1997).
* The attacking midfielder also won two Uganda Cup titles with KCC FC (1987 and 1990).
* He won three Cecafa titles with The Cranes (1990, 1992 and 1996).
* The silky dribbler was Voted Footballer of the year twice by USPA (1993 and 1996).
* He played for KCC FC, El Masry (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia) and Lowi FC (Oman).
