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.
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