Uganda Vs Tanzania: Do -or-die Fixture
Africa Nations Championship qualifier
Uganda v Tanzania (Saturday 27 at 4pm)
Charges
sh10, 000 (Stands)
sh25,000 (VIP)
First leg result
Tanzania 0 Uganda 1
Arch-rivals Uganda Cranes and Taifa Stars of Tanzania will on Saturday battle in the second leg of the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier in Kampala.
The match will be played at the 42,500 capacity-seater Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
The contest promises to be a thriller as the visitors have vowed to turn tables and get a win to deny the hosts chance to qualify for the tournament next year in South Africa.
“We are here for serious business to win the game,” a confident Tanzania coach Kim Poulsen said.
However, Poulsen’s biggest worry which partly forced the team not to train on Thursday is the fact that more than half of the team is fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
“This is a difficult period for football when moslems are fasting because players cannot have energy. But we shall adjust accordingly on the day of the match,” the coach said.
The Cranes who lead 1-0 after the first leg, need a draw of any kind to progress. Meanwhile Taifa Stars need a win with more than two goals to dump the regional champions.
Poulsen, whose team has been training hard in Mwanza, is expected to make slight changes to the team in the absence of prolific striker Shomori Kapombe who is undergoing trails in Holland.
Azam FC’s John Bocco is expected to lead the goal hunt, with industrious Mrisho Ngassa expected to do the donkey work.
But while Cranes’ players must perform at the very peak of their powers to upstage a resilient Taifa Stars side, the coaching staff will also have to be spot-on with major selection decisions.
Micho’s strategy will have to neutralise the menace likely to be caused by Tanzania’s dribbling wizard Mrisho Ngassa, playmaker Amri Kiemba and gangly striker John Bocco.
Good enough the Cranes have all week practiced on how to keep the ball and, for the long periods when Tanzania might have it, to “stay compact and keep the shape” and pressurise their creative players.
Uganda’s coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic said since this match is more like a Cup final because it means a lot to the Ugandan local players, they will make tactical changes which will benefit the team.
“We approached the first leg differently, but we are going to make changes on Saturday,” added Micho.
The former Rwanda coach who has won three international games and lost one since taking over in May confessed that early goals will be very vital for his team to kill off the game.
“We need to perfect our finishing because it’s a game where going will count,” said Micho.
In the absence of strikers Patrick Edema who traveled for trails in Portugal and injured Tony Odur, the likes of Frank Kalanda and Simon Okwi are expected to lead Uganda’s goal hunt.
Early this week, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) named Madagascaran officials Abduol Kanoso Ohabee (center), Andirvoavonjy Pierre Jean Eric (first assistant), Jinoro Velomanana Andriamiharisoa (second assistant) and Bruno as the fourth official to handle the Cranes return CHAN leg against Tanzania.
Tanzania Squad:
Goalkeepers; Ally Mustafa, Juma Kaseja, Mwadini Ali
Defenders; Aggrey Morris, David Luhende, Erasto Nyoni, Kelvin Yondani, Nadir Haroub, Vincent Barnabas
Midfielders; Amri Kiemba, Athuman Idd, Frank Domayo, Haruni Chanongo, Khamis Mcha, Mudathiri Yahya, Salum Abubakar, Simon Msuva
Attackers; John Bocco, Juma Liuzio, Mrisho Ngasa
Uganda squad:
Goalkeepers: Hamza Muwonge, Ali Kimera, Ismail Watenga
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada, Ayub Kisalita, Habib Kavuma, Ibrahim Kizza Ibrahim, Savio Kabugo, Richard Kassaga, Fahad Kawooya, Yusuf Mukisa
Midfielders: Denis Iguma, Hassan Wasswa, Ivan Ntege, Hashim Sempala, Saidi Kyeyune, Joseph Mpande, Aziz Kemba, Augustine Nsumba, Lawrence Nduga Lawrence, Brian Majwega.
Attackers: Frank Kalanda, Nelson Senkatuuka, Simon Okwi
The Pepper Publication family wishes Cranes a sweet victory.
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