Mawejje implores Cranes to stop blaming each other

UNWAVERING SERVICE: Cranes midfielder Tonny Mawejje (L) has played for the national team for more than 10 years. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

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The FK Haugesund box-to-box midfielder briskly brushes aside discussions on his lack of playing time at the Norwegian club, instead preferring to focus on the return leg against Madagascar next Saturday at Mandela National Stadium Namboole.

KAMPALA- Since his January move to Norwegian club FK Haugesund from Iceland’s Vestmannaeyjar, Tonny Mawejje has barely had a competitive game for the club.

The box-to-box midfielder has struggled to have a breakthrough.
“Like any player wouldn’t be happy when not getting enough time to play,” Mawejje, who missed the 2015 Afcon pre-qualifier 2-1 defeat away to Madagascar last weekend because his club refused to release him, tells Sunday Monitor, “I also don’t differ.”

Although the 27-year-old was in the Cranes team that lost 1-0 away to Senegal in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Mawejje was also the architect as Cranes rallied from an away defeat to Liberia to beat the Lone Stars 1-0 in the return and Angola 2-1 at Namboole in June, scoring winners in both.

The Cranes performance in Madagascar was devoid of ideas, especially in the first half when they were lucky to go into recess trailing only 2-0. But rather than point to the reason for the disjointed show, Mawejje channels the energy to the return leg.

“I would say whatever happened in Madagascar happened, period,” he told us online ahead of his trip to Kampala.

“We are just lucky that we have a second chance to make things right. Second chances are rare in football. We still have a long way (to go) to start criticizing and blaming ourselves for that loss.”

About his mind-set, Mawejje said; “You know me. I don’t do a 50/50 job. If I am not ready I don’t tamper. Anyway I will give my best.”