Maybe, it was Micho’s way of protesting against those that doubted Cranes would beat the more fancied Tanzania 4-0 on aggregate. To prove that, Micho said then, that his focus was on the next challenge, because the life of a coach, was all about accounting for one’s failures, and not their successes.
Cranes had not been in the best of form in the build-up anyway, hence the doubt they would qualify. They had only picked up one point from a possible six in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June. There had been a rumour Micho would be sacked had Cranes not qualified for Chan.
However, last week, Micho sum- moned over 30 players, to begin preparations for the Chan tournament in Algeria, beginning January 13. And perhaps, at the back of the Serbian coach’s mind, is how to end the group stage curse since in the previous five appearances, of which Micho has been in charge twice, Cranes has fallen short.
Mujib Kasule, a football coach and Fifa coaching instructor said recently: “We need to address our coaching deficiencies at club level, where the players are developed. Clearly, we have not been good enough at the big stage, because we have failed to train a specific football philosophy.”
The lack of style (philosophy), makes it difficult to build a strong team unit to outsmart opponents at the big stage. For example, the way Wakiso Giants play, is different from the way KCCA FC, URA FC, SC Villa and Vipers SC play. Yet, these clubs dominate in terms of number of players from their sides, that Micho summoned.
Essentially, Cranes are a mixture of blends, which makes the realization of chemistry hard. This begs the question, however: How come Micho was able to guide Cranes to the 2017 Afcon with a set style of play? It is simple: That team, including Tonny Mawejje, Geoffrey Massa and Denis Onyango among others, stayed together for long amid several failed attempts.
Yet, it is not the same for Micho assembling players for three weeks, and then they suddenly become world beaters. In addition, Tom Damulira, a football commentator said that Uganda’s players lack the cutting edge. Matters are not helped that to qualify, Uganda faces East Africa opposition, which is not any better.
Damulira reasoned, that the failure of most of them to be successful in more established foreign leagues, manifests itself at Chan. Uganda’s biggest challenge has been creating goals and scoring them. And Micho’s squad does not ooze much confidence in that regard.
Some of Micho’s selections were criticized. Micho, however, insisted that a national team is not just about who is on form but stability, which is generated from working with certain players long enough.
Cranes fixtures
Jan 14, 2023@7pm: DRCongo v Uganda
Jan 18, 2023@10pm: Senegal v Uganda
Jan 22, 2023@10pm: Uganda v Ivory Coast
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