Massa hopes to tear Congo’s net again

Kampala

Undoubtedly, there were unsettled souls when Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic dropped skipper Geoffrey Massa from the starting line-up away against Ghana in the opening Fifa World Cup Group E qualifier last month.

Instead, goal keeper Dennis Onyango wore the yellow arm band until Massa replaced Tonny Mawejje in the 59th minute.

Uganda went on to hold the three-time World Cup finalists for a vital point at the Tamale Stadium on October 7.

Massa, who has been a Cranes’ starter from the days of Lazlo Csaba to Micho’s predecessor Bobby Williamson, easily accepted the odd decision.

“Ghana was a very different match,” Massa told this paper following Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Zambia at Namboole.

“In Tamale, coach [Micho] wanted to hold up play with three defensive midfielders,” he said. “And for me, the team comes first before me. We wanted a result and we got the point.”

The FC Baroka forward now hopes to start when Uganda hosts Congo-Brazzaville at the second step of the road to Russia.

But not only that, he wants to score too. “I must score (against Congo),” he confidently said. If he does, it won’t be his first against the Red Devils.

In the previous meeting between the two nations, Massa fired a shot that tore the net for the third goal as Uganda beat Congo 4-0 at Namboole on June 16, 2012 to progress in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“I did not expect it,” Massa, in his early 30s’, recalled that 63rd minute effort. “It was the first time doing it here (Uganda).”

From then on, Massa earned the ‘net buster’ tag name. “I thank God that He gave me a lot of strength in my right leg,” he noted while smiling.

“I have done that several times in South Africa. I hit the ball so many times during training and they get stuck in the net,”

“I remember scoring two goals while at University of Pretoria (2013-2015) of that calibre.”

And considering all Massa’s goals have come in Namboole, will he attempt to tear the net again on Saturday? “Yes, I will try but I want to score.” he added.

Massa’s last goal at Namboole and for the Cranes was the fourth-minute opener while beating Togo 3-0 in the second round of this World Cup campaign on November 15, 2015.

Cranes squad
Robert Odongkara, Salim Jamal Magola, Benjamin Ochan, Ismail Watenga, Denis Guma, Joseph Ochaya, Isaac Isinde, Murushid Juuko, Khalid Aucho, William Kizito Luwagga, Tonny Mawejje, Moses Oloya, Farouk Miya, Geoffrey Massa, Ronald Mukiibi, Shafic Batambuze, Godfrey ‘Baba’ Kizito, Godfrey Walusimbi, Mike Azira, Yassar Mugerwa, Timothy Awanyi, Nicholas Wadada, Muzamil Mutyaba, Geoffrey Serunkuma, Shaban Muhammad