Saturday 4pm, Namboole, Uganda v Angola
 
Ugandans are eager to watch The Cranes flourishing in the 2012 AFCON finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

But before going to these countries, the Cranes have to go through the qualifiers in group 10 with Angola, Kenya and Guinea Bissau. The struggle begins today at Namboole Stadium.

This is the game that Ugandan soccer lovers have been waiting for since they earlier this year slightly missed meeting the Angolan side in the finals.

And like the fans, the world, the players and the coaches are also ready for the game. This will not be the first time for the Angola team to play the Cranes in the AFCON campaign; the two sides faced off in Kampala in the 2008 finals in which Uganda won 3-1.

However, according to Coach Bobby Williamson, that could not be a ground to stand on “That is the past and we can’t base on it,” Bobby said. He added that he has a strategy up his sleeve which he intends to deploy to hammer the visitors. 

With renowned players in the visitor’s squad which include Flavio, Jose Mabina, Gilberto and Manucho, “we need not bother with players or the coach’s name and experience. We have laid our strategy. It’s only time for the Cranes to face-off,” Bobby added.   

Talking about the players’ form and fitness, the Scottish trainer told The Sunrise in their morning training on Thursday that his 23-man team is fit and ready for the game. “I’ve appropriate players and all are ready for the encounter,” he said.
Unlike the previous games, all the team departments look to be balanced and the challenge is left for the coach to select the starting line-up

The goal
All the three goalkeepers in the camp Vis, Hamza Muwonge, Robert Ondonkala and Denis Onyango have been performing well in training. From experience, Onyango is okay as are his two colleagues.

As the coach is always the final man in choosing an outfit he deploys on the field, Bobby is also expected to pick the best of his best.

The defense
This will be a busy department this evening; they are in to stop the likes of Mabina, Manucho and Gilberto among other deadly attackers in the visitor’s line-up.

Captain Ibrahim Sekagya and Andy Mwesigwa in the central defense, Simon Masaba and Godfrey Walusimbi on right and left back respectively are the starting four backline.

Their performance in the camp has been so impressive and will no doubt protect the team’s record of not losing at home. Their backing of Isinde Isaac, Derrick Walulya and Joseph Owino are also eager and ready for the game.

The mid field
In the history of soccer, the mid field has been and still is the engine for any team to win a match. Midfielders link the defenders to the strikers and on many occasions they are involved in scoring for their teams.

The Cranes mid field will be commanded by either Tony Mawejje or Hassan Waswa in the defensive role to provide cover for the back four.

Owen Kasule or Mike Serumaga will assist him to drive or link them to the strikers. Other drivers will be Steven Bengo or David Obua and Dan Wagaluka on left and right wings; Sula Matovu, Mudde Musa, Patrick Ochan and Vincent Kayizzi are other options that Bobby will have to choose but all have been performing to expectation. With the 4:4:2 formation, Bobby will select the best four who will supply the twins.

The forwards
Failure to score goals especially in the away games was the reason why the Cranes missed the Angola AFCON finals. But in today’s game, Bobby has Geoffrey Maasa, Robert Sentongo, Brian Umony and Geoffrey Serunkuma to choose the starting duo.

Maasa and Umony are expected to start this game since they have been delivering for the team for the last two seasons and their performance at the club has been fair compared to their competitors.   

Gates will be opened  at 10am. The public will be paying shs 20,000 for the pavilion seats and shs 10,000 respectively.