On Tuesday, when news of the Uganda Cranes’ loss in Zimbabwe started filtering through, I came across some natives who claimed having made a stand not to watch the team, again.
They say they have been very disappointed one many times. From a football fan’s perspective, I could understand their rage. But just for a few minutes because, being a football fan, I also know you win some, lose some. You don’t walk away.
What got me penning this piece, though, is slightly bigger than those few fans’ utterances. It’s national. It’s a call for patriotism. Patriotism we all must have. You see, being Ugandan sometimes doesn’t just circle around ancestry or holding the passport. Nope! It goes beyond this my friend.
It actually could go up to reciting all the three stanzas of the national anthem or knowing what the blue stripes on the court of arms represent.
It could even mean being able to realize that the Adibas (read Adiddas) jerseys we infamously wore some years back made in China meant for the Uganda Cranes fans had a hen instead of a crested crane. Just saying!
Running a risk of being labeled a “lecturer”, I will go on and say some Ugandans seem to have misunderstood the whole idea of the “Tulumbe”, “Let’s go” or the “Namutima” campaigns. Some seem to have interpreted it as some sort of begging from the powers that be. It’s not. It’s your responsibility to support the Cranes whatever the results. You’re Ugandan, anyway!
To this back ground, I will quickly get to my point before the editor reconsiders this piece, again. The Uganda Cranes battle Botswana this Saturday in Francistown and, yes, unfortunately the calculators are out again. We must win both our remaining matches while hoping Burkina Faso drops a few for us to get those Gabon invitations.
With The Stallions yet to play in Moroni this Saturday and Botswana yet to visit Ouagadougou in September, Ugandans can best hope they drop some points on any of these match days.
Of course the other scenario is hoping we finish as one of the two best second placed teams to make the extravaganza. There are 13 groups, twelve with 4 teams and one with three teams (plus the host nation which play friendlies with the three teams). The group winners and two best overall runners-up will qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Micho, of course knowing the permutations, will hope Denis Onyango, Joseph Ochaya, Aucho Khalid and Tonny Mawejje are good to start in Botswana having all been on the bench in Harare on Tuesday.
He will also know that Botswana has won their last two games at home, scoring thrice and conceding once, which makes this weekend’s encounter harder to win than many could maybe have thought.
As you read this, many are wondering why we got ourselves in this situation in the first place; a situation where we don’t have our own destiny in our hands. Well, like I said before, things happen in football. And instead of us holding onto those tears, we need to move forward and actually realize we can still make it. Both mathematically and realistically.
Micho will, this weekend, be faced with a couple of big selection decisions to make. Does he start Godfrey Walusimbi at left back or does Joseph Ochaya continue with his run in the side? Does he start two strikers upfront or does Geofrey Massa lead the line alone? Will he start Moses Oloya and either drops a holding midfielder or Walusimbi if Ochaya starts? Is it Hassan Wasswa or Murshid Juuko to pair with Isaac Isinde in the centre?
Those and many more are the questions we the fans are asking. It will definitely come down to the Serbian tactician this Saturday. Whatever decision he takes, the Uganda football fans should respect it and support the starting eleven and hope we get a result. Plus, support and hope Comoros beats or draws with Burkina faso.
We beat Bostwana 2-0 in Kampala; let’s now do a double over them.
Support the lads, this Saturday. You’re Ugandan, anyway!
