Uganda’s near-misses in the 34 years (hope the wait ends on Saturday evening) of Africa Cup of qualification agony are a variety of episodes of failure.

We can go on and on about the tactics to be employed in the decisive second leg match against the reigning African champions Zambia this weekend, but that is a matter for Cranes coach Bobby Williamson. Let him do the job he is paid to do.

No doubt tactics are important in the game of football. But seeing Uganda’s last couple of hurting misses, perhaps Cranes weren’t let down by tactics. There is ample evidence to suggest the psychology of Cranes players should be emphasised ahead of Saturday.

Nine years ago when Uganda played Rwanda home and away in a double header that cost Cranes a place at Tunisia 2004, the team was let down by players whose mindset was not tuned.

After comfortably dominating Amavubi over both legs, Cranes found solace in blaming juju (withcraft). It was a national shame. Livinstone Mbabazi hit the bar in Kigali, Abubaker Tabula and Hakim Magumba hit the post in Kampala and Cranes generally had Rwanda on the ropes.

But they (Rwanda) got four valuable points that gave them enough momentum to qualify for their first Africa Cup of Nations. Two Cranes players who featured in both games but have since retired confessed that the volcano of anxiety from the terraces descended onto them once Uganda failed to land that early goal.
The story is not much different from last year when Kenya was massacred in a 0-0 stalemate. The Harambee Stars pitched camp in the 18-yard box and became too content to operate from there. They parked an ocean liner and went to sleep. Yet still, Cranes carved out many decent opportunities but failed to find a way past the outstanding Kenya shot stopper Arnold Origi. Saturday afternoon will require unruffled nerves.

Cranes need players to cope with the momentous occasion. Thankfully there are experienced heads like skipper Andy Mwesigwa. It has been unambiguously reiterated that Uganda needs an early goal - very true and ideal. But if or when it gets to 60 minutes with the scoreline 0-0, the players, unlike fans, mustn’t panic.

mnamanya@ug.nationmedia.com

As the protracted war for league ownership continues to simmer, the main actors have auspiciously been relegated to the periphery of the melodrama. Over 400 footballers are undergoing pre-season training ahead of the 2012-13 league season. But they are most presumably in the dark. They do not know when the league will kick off.

They do not know which league they will be playing. They are hanging in suspense, in the middle of no where. The stories of most footballers in the league are a sorry tale of despair, hope and ambition.

Several young boys take on the beautiful game attemtping to forge a career that may one day shape a livelihood. They love football. They are lucky to earn from something they genuinely enjoy. But like every one else in society, they face demands and challenges of all kinds. Some - the lucky ones - are still at school. But many are failed students.

They are playing football because their parents/guardians failed to raise fees for their education. The stories vary from one footballer to another. There are those who found refuge in the game. Without it, they would have been public nuisances. Then there are footballers in the league whose sole income is their allowance and wages.

On average, a player in the Ugandan league earns not more than Shs100,000 a month. That is the equivalent of $40. It is from that income that a player settles rent, bills, medical and - for the ones with children - school fees. The situation is so dire that there are players who spend the night without a meal.

Football is their sole hope. It is their sanctuary for life. So you can only hope that USL or FSL or whatever name the upcoming league, assuming sanity will see the light of day, will be known caters for the best interests of the footballers. Uganda is probably the only country in the world where officials are glorified more than footballers.

Yet no one has ever paid his dimes to enter a stadium to watch officials kicking the onion bag. We love the game of football principally because of how men (and women) manipulate a ball. Not how grown-up men relentlessly manipulate situations for their own interests.

mnamanya@ug.nationmedia.com

About kiprotich

Born: 27 February, 1989
Home District: Kapchorwa
Races: 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000m steeplechase, Cross-country, half marathon and marathon
PERSONAL BEST TIMES - YEAR
3000m: 7:48.06 (2007)
3000m steeplechase: 8:36.2 (2008)
5000m: 13:23:70 (2008)
10,000m: 28:00.98 (2008)
Marathon: 2:07:12 (2011)

Olympics. Kiprotich ensured that Uganda’s anthem was finally sang after 40 years. Weary after enduring the longest day in his life, Stephen Kiprotich showed unique dancing strokes as he partied the night away with joy-filled Ugandans.
The 2012 marathon champion, Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist in 40 years, had paid a courtesy call to north London to meet Ugandans.

At some point, you felt for the 23-year-old. A day after winning the most gruelling athletics event, his new profile effectively denied him sufficient relaxation.
He spent countless hours in London areas of Forest Gate, Seven Sisters, Woodgreen blending with fans. Kiprotich also had to appear on US cable channel CNN for an interview.

The marathoner was visibly exhausted, almost to the point of no return. It told in his eyes. He could barely push himself. But Kiprotich found energy to galvanise a crowd that scarcely needed lifting with a variety of dancing strokes at Nile Bar, a Uganda bar on West Green Road.

When the DJ played Pastor Okudi’s ‘Wipolo’, Kiprotich let loose on the dance floor and was immediately joined by fans.

“It took us 40 years to get here. I’m still in shock,” a one Jonathan Kagoro said. “This man is history itself. These are the true heroes of our country; the ones that have earned their place for us.”

The words Kiprotich muttered most were “Thank you.” He’ll never say “Thank You” as much as he did on Monday. And that is before he arrives in the country today morning for the mother of welcomes.

“I can’t imagine what will happen at Entebbe,” wondered Nana Kagga. Together with her colleagues Samuel Kabuye, Godwin Matovu, Gilbert Kamuntu, Benson Ainebyona, James Opiyo, Pamella Kyomugisha and Johan Kisekulo, they handed Kiprotich an envelope with an unspecified amount of money.

Everywhere he went Kiprotich received gifts in all forms.
Within the fatigue was an immense feeling of privilege and pride for what he did for Ugandans home, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.Never before had an incident united them so much.

At Uganda House, people started flocking the embassy as early as 9am on Monday morning. This was perhaps their only chance to see and physically thank their hero. They weren’t going to miss the opportunity even if it meant not reporting to work. Kiprotich arrived 13 hours later to find one of the largest gatherings of Ugandans at the embassy. Some had left, but the majority soldiered on in patience.

On arrival, he was showered with more presents before he took photos and signed autographs with Ugandans from all walks of life. Earlier, Uganda-born pastor GMK Elly of Kingdom Love Ministries led prayers to thank God for Kiprotich’s historic triumph.

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UGANDA’s PAST MEDAL WINNERS
1996 Atlanta
Davis Kamoga
(Bronze) – 400m
1980 Moscow
John ‘the Beast’ Mugabi (Silver) Welterweight Boxing
1972 Munich
John Akii-Bua (Gold) 400m hurdles
Leo Rwabogo (Silver) Flyweight boxing
1968 Mexico City
Eridadi Mukwanga (Silver) Bantamweight boxing
Leo Rwabogo (Bronze) Flyweight boxing

Stephen Kiprotich’s life was never going to be the same the moment he became Olympic champion. The marathon king has visibly been worn down by the countless events in the aftermath of his historic victory on Sunday. Interviews with the global media and numerous attempts to check on him by a number of fans and well-wishers at the Olympic Village continued yesterday. He is due to fly out tonight at 9pm aboard British Airways together with Uganda’s other contingent. He’ll arrive tomorrow morning at 8.30am.

Ugandans living in the United Kingdom were hoping to meet their hero before departure. Swalley Lwanga and Janet Nakamya are some of the many who were looking forward to the opportunity of meeting the country’s first Olympic champion in 40 years.

They want to individually hand Kiprotich their token of appreciation for his legendary performance on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics. Davis Kamoga, one of Uganda’s seven Olympic medalists, was keen on Kiprotich meet his countrymen. “We saw Usain Bolt and his fellow athletes moving and partying with Jamaicans. These people would love to see Kiprotich and express their gratefulness before him,” Kamoga said yesterday.

“It would give them immense pride, glory and satisfaction.”Kiprotich has barely rested since he ran himself into the annals of sport.

mnamanya@ug.nationmedia.com