{UAH} Abbey/WBK: 1978 Nations Cup buildup perfectly fitted The Cranes
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1978 Nations Cup buildup perfectly fitted The Cranes
What started as a dream is now a reality. Uganda is in the Nations Cup for the first time in 38 years.
In many ways, this is a colossal feat but have you stopped to imagine what Nations Cup qualification means for perennial campaigners such as Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia? I have a feeling it is more of sheer relief than achievement. In the same vein, Uganda has got nothing to lose but everything to gain at the tournament in Gabon but all that will depend on the team's preparations.
In the three months before the tournament, we have two 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Ghana and Congo plus a Cecafa Cup tournament in Kenya. In between, I am sure Fufa will organize some friend- lies. All this means it may take time before the Nations Cup-bound team is known.
Already, Cranes coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic has reiterated that the door is open for every player to make his final squad. Looking back to the magical 1978 squad, several football dynamics have changed but the level of organization back then is one to behold.
THE DAYS AFTER
A few days after Jimmy Kirunda scored a late header to book Uganda's berth at the Ghana-hosted tournament, team manager Bidandi Ssali summoned all players to read out the riot act and code of conduct for the days to follow before the tournament.
Bidandi, along with coach Peter Okee, were revered persons that all players didn't blink when they gave an order. It happened that The Cranes squad was also dominated by the all-conquering KCCA that he coached.
For one, Bidandi had a firm grip on the team and followed up each player from the pitch up to their homes. With the 1977 Cecafa just two weeks away, Uganda's qualification honeymoon lasted just seven days and the team resumed residential camp at Lugogo before flying out to Somalia.
While there, The Cranes eased through the competition and de- feated Zambia in the final without conceding a single goal. Even in triumph, there was no time to relax for KCCA players; 10 of whom were part of the Cecafa team.
The Cecafa Club Championship was due in Kampala in January 1978 and this was in many ways a last-chance saloon for fringe play- ers to show their worthiness.
For one, Ashe Mukasa, the first-choice national team left-back, seized the moment to join KCCA as a way of gaining match fitness to boost his chances of making the Afcon squad. Mukasa was an Express FC player but his side was controversially- banned in 1977 by Col Nasur Abdul- lah over what he called subversive activities.
Indeed, the home side didn't disappoint and romped to a new achievement when they defeated Tanzania's Simba. This series of successes laid a firm foundation for the team to build on but there was more to players' form.
DISCIPLINE
Bidandi had an amazing under- standing of each player's weaknesses but instead of drawing a line, he ensured they were within the team's means. For instance, star players Phillip Omondi, Denis Obua and Godfrey Kisitu were renowned for their love for the bottle but Bidandi always monitored them by making sure they don't go over the limit.
That kept the team in harmony but when Obua extended the favour to sneak out of the team camp, Col Nasur summarily dismissed him from the team. The all-powerful Nasur was a top figure in government and sports enthusiast, who cut out a niche as a self-styled disciplinarian.
That was a wake-up call to other players. Perhaps Nasur's ruthlessness stemmed from government's full support to the team in all forms from funding to logistics. There was never a moment when financial is- sues hampered the team.
AGONY AND ECSTASY
By the time the domestic league was halted in late February to pave way for the national team, right winger Stanley 'Tank' Mubiru had already been ruled out of the Afcon squad after picking up an injury while playing for Nsambya. It was a bitter blow for the stocky player who had been named in the 1974 Afcon team of the tournament.
But then, the Okee-Bidandi tandem faced a tough choice to drop some big names and among those that didn't make the final squad were 1975 league top-scorer Chris Ddungu (Nile), Leo Adraa (Nsambya), Billy Kizito and Gerald Kabeireho (KCCA), Martin Ochaga (UCB), Edward Baguma (UCB), Clement Baraza (Simba) and Emma Kalanzi (Kilembe).
On the contrary, there were a few surprise picks such as Simba rookie Fred Isabirye, who was drafted into the team to fill the Obua void. Others include Rashid Mudin (KCCA) and Meddie Lubega (Simba). In all, 11 KCCA players made it to the 22-man squad while Simba had five.
TOGETHERNESS
Being peers is of the underlying factors for the team's steady rise. For instance, the bulk of the team had been together for more than six years, something that built cohesion on the field.
I'm a little worried about the current squad. The depth is undeniable but the team lacks any form of continuity right from defence to attack.
At the moment, it is almost impossible to predict the starting XI when every player is fit and, unfortunately, there is little time for them to play together before Afcon. It is perhaps high time we seized every international break to have our full squad competing for places.
But all this can only remain on pa- per unless government lends a hand in implementing the plans.
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