U-19 CAR Tier 1A

4 SATURDAY VISION, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 GOOAL! YOUR COLUMNISTS THE CRANES NEED CAPTAIN’S TIP HERBERT PRAYERS TOO WAFULA he task is daunting, but not can be devastating on a good day. Such insurmountable. Uganda will names could be intimidating and for a put Ghana’s bruised and bat- Cranes team only starting to gel with U-19 CAR tered reputation at the 2014 some fresh faces, concentration and TFIFA World Cup under microscopic focus will be vital ingredients. examination today at the Baba Yara Tier 1A stadium in Kumasi. It is a Group E Travel complications fixture on a weekend when the 2015 Geoffrey Massa, the veteran Pretoria ast weekend we saw our baby Cranes African Cup of Nations qualifiers get University striker, who has scored a goal qualify for next year’s CAR 1A U-19 tour- underway. in each of his last two Cranes qualify- nament at Kyadondo and it was a great Ghana’s first international since their ill ing games, was omitted due to travel moment for most in attendance. After all the fated World Cup, and the first time they will complications and Tony Mawejje’s star Lcelebrations and chest thumping, it is time to step be meeting Uganda in an official fixture has fallen. Brian Majwega, probably back and reflect on what lies ahead. Planning and since the 2006 Africa World Cup qualifiers Cranes fastest rising star who has shown preparations is almost everything. when the Black Stars won 2-0 in Kumasi to incredible versatility playing at left back, The good news was that many of the youngsters who were gain qualification. midfield and left wing with potency and also eligible to play in the competition were busy represent- With stars Sulley Muntari and Kevin finesse, missed the trip due to injury. ing their respective schools in the EA schools games in Dar Prince Boateng ignominiously exiting the Previously, Uganda has had the benefit es Salaam. This is an indication that at schools level we have World Cup to cast a dark shadow over the of kick starting their AFCON campaigns a healthier players’ depth. Qualification to tier 1A is done and nation that had carried Africa’s biggest at home where they are formidable. That Namibia are going to represent Africa in the Junior World hopes, the pressure to win over their coun- home opportunity however, will only Rugby Trophy (JWRT) in Portugal. Next year we are sure to trymen again will be immense. In 2003, come in the second match next Wednes- play them alongside persistent campaigners Zimbabwe and Uganda held them 1-1 in Accra after beating day against Guinea in a night fixture. A neighbours Kenya. them 1-0 in Kampala at Namboole. Now, good result in Ghana will almost most they will have to exploit Uganda’s shaken certainly make the Guinea fixture a sell CAR 1A is harsh confidence after Micho Sredojevic’s charges out but a bad result will put more pres- For starters CAR 1A U-19 is a very harsh territory and in lost 2-0 in a warm up friendly to Niger on sure on the team and discourage fans. order for us to have a chance to run alongside the opposi- Tuesday. Unlike previous campaigns where tion we need to come out with very clear guidelines on the the team only departed for an away preparation and plans. Scores like Namibia 78 Tunisia 03 The sickening travels fixture with a couple of days left, the and Namibia 52 Kenya 17 should make one think very seri- Uganda’s sickening travels have become Cranes have been camping in Niamey ously about that level of playing. legendary and a group that has Ghana, in Ghana’s neighbourhood for the last The game has moved on and if we rely on the same old Guinea and Togo, all West African opposi- week as they tried to acclimatise to the methods of preparation then do not expect miracles. I do tion, does not offer much hope that the tide West African conditions. With four West not know much about how Tunisia prepared but it is well could change soon. Yet, Uganda’s recent 1-0 African nations - Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory known that Namibia and the young Sables had part of their away win in Mauritania in the defining pre- Coast, Cameroon - representing Africa preparation in the highly coveted Coca Cola Craven Week in liminary second round fixture that earned at the 2014 World Cup out of the five South Africa. Kenya had part of their team participating in them group qualification for the campaign CHIEF FOOTBALL COLUMNIST slots allotted, Uganda could not have the Junior Olympics in China where they beat some strong lifts the lid off the doom and gloom. had a better chance to measure the teams in the shorter version like Fiji among others. The return to form of prodigal son Brian standards of their game. It is a very healthy thing to ask right now how we plan to Umony and AS Vita young striker Yunus Junior Sentamu who net- prepare for next year’s competition. Answers might be few ted the lone goal away to Zamalek in Egypt two weeks ago to help Possibilities in Uganda soccer if any but we have to start planning for those preparations his team qualify for the semi finals in the CAF Champions Any positive result Uganda gets against Ghana, Togo ASAP. The financial implications are definitely going to play League, almost dictates that the two get the nod for starting and Guinea will point to the possibilities a big role here but that has been the story of our rugby since places. Five goals for Umony at the recently con- that Ugandan football has but have 1996 when we made the first schools tour to Nairobi. cluded CECAFA tournament in Rwanda and three not perhaps been harnessed. Kenya, for Sentamu at the 2014 CHAN tournament in Tanzania, Sudan and Rwanda Holiday Camps South Africa is proof that the two have the all failed to make the group Eligible players have to be identified and groomed as early pedigree to deliver at this level. qualification stage which as possible. Holiday camps must be put in place to hone the The goalkeeping position is another that leaves Uganda as the only basic rugby skills and an education in team tactics and S&C. has lately given the Serbian coach sleepless East African representatives. A squad of about 40 players must be monitored closely and nights. He has been flirting with Robert There is every reason to believe in order to cut some costs be attached to clubs for further Odongkara, who again had an off day that the whole of East Africa, development and exposure. on Tuesday against Niger, and his senior not just Uganda, will be I know some will wonder what I am thinking but the truth Dennis Onyango, spends too much time on the following events in Accra with is that dreaming that we shall have preparations as good bench at his club. Captain Andy Mwesigwa has keen interest. as Namibia or Zimbabwe is a good part time exercise and been off colour for sometime and his recent red Ghana were last champions of desirable but just in case we cannot get them we need to card in the friendly against Niger increases his Africa 30 years ago and despite use what we have right now. Wishful thinking is an exercise vulnerability. their resurgence in the last eight likely to lead to inaction. The technical team under Robert As record African champions Egypt will years, the trophy has remained a bar too Seguya and Dennis Etuket needs to be improved according testify, Ghana are not the best opponents to play high. They are the team that beat Uganda 36 to their wishes. As a guide, just recall that CAR 1A at that against when they are racing against years ago in Uganda’s only final to date. level is unforgiving unlike CAR 1B where despite basic er- a tidal wave of criticism or Cranes need a prayer. rors saw us overcome some teams. doubt. The likes of Asamo- ah Gyan, Andre Ayew Herbert Wafula is an ex-captain of the Uganda Rugby Cranes and Kwadwo 7s and XVs. [email protected] Asamoah Ghana’s A. Annan .

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