Saturday, June 9, 2012 Uganda Vs Senegal 2014 World Cup qualifier 3 Comment CRANES READY TO Aldrine Nsubuga START AFRESH hen the news scene of crime while others took over, Uganda has stood filtered have since opted for sports tall against some of the big through last with no pressure points. African sides here at home. Sunday that But that’s before they were Facing Senegal, Angola Wthe Cranes had pulled out a informed of another Cranes and Liberia in Group J, rare trick from the bag and date in town. Uganda has a chance. If forced Angola to a 1-1 Senegal today, Congo they beat Senegal, noth- draw in Luanda, a sense of next weekend. Nambole ing can stop them from optimism filled the air. will struggle to contain the believing. Group leaders are Uganda’s 2014 world cup human traffic in and out of set to qualify for the next qualifying campaign was off the stadium. stage from where fivei teams the mark. Not a flying start Names like Mamadou will qualify to represent but enough to stir the Niang, Demba Ba, Soule- Africa at the 2014 world adrenalin. many Diawara, Papiss Cisse cup. Uganda’s aim in this In preparation for today’s and Ibrahima Balde cause preliminary stage is to lead cliff hanger against Senegal, nostalgia when they are part the group. a high ranking FUFA offi- of the foreign legion in the Under Willamson , home cial on Thursday said this Senegalese squad. But then, form has been the reason about the world cup, “FIFA Denis Onyango, Martin why Uganda has been world cup rules don’t allow Mutumba, Emma Okwi, threatening to break the ....From anyone else to talk about Mike Serumaga, God- duck and make an appear- the world cup except the frey Walusimbi and Tony ance in the final of a major kindergar- national federations.” Mawejje cause enough ex- tournament like the Africa Clearly, the excitement of citement among the locals, Cup of Nations finals lately. ten kids, being in the limelight as he if only to find out whether Ironically, it was at home promots the people’s most the Cranes are ready to miss in January, against a very revered national product… Ibrahim Sekajja, David fair opponent in Kenya, village belles the Cranes, has got to his Obua and Nestroy Kizito. that Uganda’s qualifica- head. Senegal may have been the tion dreams to Equatoria to senior cor- Who can blame him? biggest flop at the 2012 Af- Guinea - Gabon ended From kindergarten kids, vil- rica Cup of Nations finals, Senegal has started the porate execu- lage belles to senior corpo- but they are a squad oozing campaign in bullish fashion, rate executives, everyone the kind of talent Uganda condemning Liberia to a wants to identify with The can only dream about. comfortable 3-1 win. tives, every- Cranes. It’s the national It was Senegal who The big lesson they must symbol of patriotic pride. shocked world football have learnt at the 2012 one wants to Where politicians define when they beat then reign- AFC finals is that, in foot- patriotism by the colour of ing world champions France ball there are no rewards identify with one’s t-shirt football fans in their maiden appearance for being favourites. Only define it by who is talking at the finals of a world cup results matter. about the Cranes. FUFA in 2002. Senegal are mak- It’s why The Cranes The Uganda know it, which is why the ing a return more than ten will have a huge task on Wiiliamson has the task to lift the spirits of the boys cheapest ticket has been put years since they last came their hands as they will be Cranes. at 25,000/=, the highest in to Nakivubo and destroyed playing against an oppo- ponents. The good news on the Angola result and the history of football. the Cranes in one of the nent who is in a hurry to though is that the Cranes boost the morale of a nation Every Ugandan has most lop sided matches erase the bitter memories are eager to prove that they that has been despondent talked about the pain and ever witnessed by the home of Equatoria Guinnea - are not just in it to make the since the Kenya result. agony they suffered after fans. In the last seven years Gabon. numbers. With a huge par- Let’s get behind them. the Cranes failure. Many however since Laszlo Csaba They already paid a huge tisan 42,000 home crowd swore never to return to the and Bobby Williamson’s price for underrating op- behind them, they can build [email protected] Torres has the key to Spain chances of retaining Euro championship orres who is well, naturally he continued to work years ago and I do not believe that title, It is something that no one has expected to start until the end of the season and now expectation is a negative thing for ever achieved in football, this makes when Spain begin he is there with a great chance of the squad. you realize the importance and how the defence of having a good European Champi- Before the World Cup and now difficult it is. Perhaps Spain can be their European onship. there has been optimism and that the first. crown against Geoffrey Torres who is now fourth on is healthy. With Torres who offers Torres scored the winner against Italy on Saturday, Spain’s all-time list of top scor- speed, movement and combination Germany in Euro 2008 final four I think is the key to Spain’s chances ers with 28 goals has set his sights play with his team-mates, I think years ago which started his coun- Tof retaining the title. His experi- Bukohore on going up to third during the Spain have a chance to retain the try’s incredible run of success after ence of the big occasions and work tournament with Fernando Hierro title. There are 19 players that were so many years of disappointment at rate could prove vital for the world just one goal better off. Only Raul in the World Cup squad and that international level. It was a turning champions. and El Guaje (David Villa) will be says of how firm and compact group point. To pass through the barrier Torres admitted that he was that when you lose something you ahead in the list of scorers. without any weaknesses. The team of the quarter-finals and lift the tro- as excited as ever to play for his realize how important it is and this Despite losing their all-time works well and therefore there are phy was the start of what today this country after being left out by is what happened with Fernando leading scorer in David Villa with very few reasons to change. team is: world champions. Vicente Del Bosque for the friendly in the national team. When Del 51 goals in 82 games, Spain are still About the task to follow up Eu- against Venezuela in February and Bosque left him out he did so to favorites amongst many to retain ropean Championship and World Geoffrey Bukohore is a former I believe it provoked him. It is true give him a warning and he took it the title they won in Austria four Cup wins with another European Uganda international defender.