Cranes players can take lead from coach Micho’s bold moves

When Milutin Micho Sredojevic defended his defensive play in the second half against Liberia, that “it is natural for a team down to always come out,” that “we had to be cautious and defend our lead while also trying to hit on the counter,” he sent two signals.

One, an admission that a porous home team were capitulating under Liberia’s application in the final third. Two, that Uganda needed to – actually – protect what they already had - at all costs. The Cranes legs had given way, mind set to protecting the booty.

Now, that in itself hardly passed Micho as a bold man. With the script tilted, the man –understandably so you could argue- wanted his first victory as Cranes coach, even if at the expense of the expression this column talked about last week.

Thus, application was found lacking, positional sense in defence at times conjecture, strikers Geoffrey Massa and Emma Okwi spent much of the time in the wings while Anthony Laffor and Ansu Toure dominated Baba Kizito, Hassan Wasswa, and snuffed out Kizito Luwagga in the midfield.

But the Serb’s boldness was demonstrated in his starting line-up, where he had Robert Odongkara ahead of Abel Dhaira in goal, Isaac Isinde at the expense of Henry Kalungi in central defence, and Kizito Luwagga ahead of Moses Oloya.

It could have boomeranged, but in the end, going by the result, he had been vindicated. But even him, Micho admitted the display could have been better. Micho had seen Kalungi train for just a few days after the defender arrived from the USA a few days to the game, so he went with Isinde, whom he had monitored more, even from St George, a club he coached.

Then he decided to go with Odongkara since the St George man, just like Isinde, had been playing continental football with his club compared to Dhaira, who is having nightmares displacing Tanzania skipper Juma Kaseja in the Simba goal.

Oloya’s form has dipped recently and Micho had to go with Luwagga, who had a remarkable season with Portuguese side Leixoes, on top of his impressive cameo against Libya.

Don’t be shocked when the Serb pulls more surprises in his lineup this weekend, not to disprove criticism from sections of the media, but to inform his assessment of players in training. If you have been privy to Ugandan football politics, you will know these were clearly Micho’s calls made on merit, not dictated from the powers that be.

And Cranes players can borrow from their coach’s boldness, his resoluteness and apparent independence in his lineup, when they set out against Angola on Saturday.

They should be bold enough to face Angola with confidence to play the game, nerve to express themselves, with the pressures of Brazil far away from their minds.

And Micho asked them to do just that last week but they caved in to the occasion. It cannot be achieved overnight, especially that we are still looking for the right players to orchestrate it, but it can be given a try, just another try, on Saturday.

Fufa, Namboole Stadium is not a public park easily accessed at will

‘Breaking news’ of “Cranes locked out of Namboole for an under 15-Aspire Africa tournament,” spread faster than a wild fire on Monday afternoon.