Chan: Coach Mubiru not fazed despite lack of goal

Patrick Kaddu’s lone strike during Cranes 1-0 win over Uganda Revenue Authority FC last week remains the only goal for the national team in over 270 minutes of test matches played.

The Cranes have been involved in three build up matches as they continue their preparations for the African Championship qualifiers against Somalia on July 27, 2019 at the El Hadj Hassan Gouled Stadium, Djibouti.

The team failed to score during their 1-0 loss against Kitara Region select team in the ‘Cranes na Mutima’ tour over the weekend despite the numerous scoring opportunities that they created during the match.

On Wednesday, the Cranes were again tested in a buildup game against Proline FC with the game ending goalless after 90 minutes.

With Kaddu, Dan ‘Muzeeyi’ Sserunkuuma and Nelson Senkatuka are the striking options available in the team, it is a worrying stat given that goals are required if they are to progress past Somalia.

But Cranes interim head coach Abdallah Mubiru says he is not fazed by the lack of goals scored in the test matches as he believes they will have found a solution by the time they face off with Somalia.

“It is true we have not scored as often as you suggest we should be, but that is not something that am worried about, because we are still training and by the time we play Somalia, we should be in position to score goals,” Mubiru told Watchdog Uganda.

However, Mubiru says that he is now impressed with how well the players execute the game plan plus the continued improvement of the ball especially in the final third.

“Today, we applied ourselves better in the final third as there was intent to get the ball to our forward players in the right position. I am happy that the boys are learning and improving in that regard,” he added.

Mubiru further gave credit to the defensive play of his team, as they have not given away so many freekicks in their defensive half and have always looked impressive when in possession.

“Defensively, we have not given away as much in all the games we have played and that’s important for us. We have also pressed well and won the ball quite quickly,” Mubiru said further.

The Cranes are currently in residential camp at the Sky Hotel but will fly out to Djibouti on Thursday morning with the final 18 man squad expected to be named later.