7/10/08


MICHO, KESHI TOP OF FUFA WISHLIST
Wednesday, 9th July, 2008
 
Can Sivic carry Cranes hopes?

Can Sivic carry Cranes hopes?

Fred Kaweesi

JUST a couple of weeks ago, Uganda Cranes� progress to the final qualifying stages of both the 2010 World/Nations Cup finals looked like it would be a sprint rather than a marathon.

However, the shocking revelation that the team�s head coach Laszlo Csaba would soon be abandoning the side for a move to Scottish side Hearts have turned all Cranes� projections into some sort of steeplechase.

The hurdles ahead will only be negotiated if soccer governing body FUFA can appoint a new coach at least a month before Uganda�s next date against Niger on September 7.

That way, all the decks will be cleared and everyone, players, coach, and the football association, will spend August fully focused on the job at hand � winning the two qualifiers against Niger and Benin.

This is the best Cranes team in a long time but fans and soccer pundits have expressed fears that the furore surrounding the coaching position might affect the players.

The one thing about footballers is that they all have their personal ambitions, every single one of them. They want to do well for their families, for their fans and their country. It wouldn�t matter who the coach is.

The names tied to Csaba�s succession are many, both among the public as well as in the corridors of the federation. So while everyone waits, here is a look at the potential candidates.

Tomislav Sivic
When Egyptian Mohammad Abbas was evicted from the hot-seat in 2006, Lawrence Mulindwa�s FUFA identified Serbian Sivic as the ideal replacement. The federation pencilled a four-year deal with the youthful manager and he was unveiled at FUFA house at Mengo.
Sivic changed his mind, apparently after listening to some FUFA critics, and cited �personal problems,� for not taking the job.

The Cranes job then was not as prestigious as it is now with Angola 2010 and South Africa 2010 a step away.

Despite falling out with FUFA, the wounds have been healed and he has re-emerged as one of the top choices.

Micho Sredejovic
The former SC Villa boss, interestingly a close friend to Sivic, is the other fan-favourite and top pick of the federation. He had a bad spell at Orlando Pirates in South Africa before moving to St.George in Ethiopia.
Unlike Csaba, he appreciated Ugandan domestic football while at Villa Park and Cranes stars Denis Onyango, Hannington Kalyesubula, Timothy Batabaire, Nestroy Kizito, Andrew Mwesigwa, Dan Wagaluka, Simeon Masaba and Joseph Kabagambe were among his loyal servants.

Mohammad Abbas
The Egyptian has stated his ambition to take the job. The well-built coach is largely behind the foundations of the current Cranes team and is responsible for the professional careers of David Obua and Geo-ffrey Massa.
He helped Uganda to third-place in the LG Cup event in 2006, after stunning World Cup finalists Ecuador 2-1 in Cairo.

Sam Timbe
The Police boss has been part of Csaba�s coaching team and that has to count for something. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of the squad in detail. He guided little-known Police and giants SC Villa to the CECAFA club championship title.

Oliveira Goncalves
Laugh all you want, but the recent tensions between Oliveira and the Angolan federation could drive the Angolan coach away from the Black Antelopes.
For more than a decade, he has poured sweat into Angolan football and led them to their first World Cup finals, but Cranes� imposing results against Angola have not helped his postion.

Gunter Zittel
The charismatic German was recently named as technical director in Madagascar, but is available and has all the credentials to handle such a mammoth undertaking and would be happy to return �home� as he is married a Ugandan beauty before he left in 2005.

His past experience working as a technical director here should help him settle in a country he is attached to. He has connections in the German DFB that will ensure technical support.

Ephraem Mashaba
The way Mashaba has breathed new life into the Swaziland team and the vibrancy with which it plays is impressive. The former South African coach recently shocked Zambia and Togo. He is famed for motivational skills �� which Cranes are in desperate need of.

Steven Keshi
What a choice this would be! Keshi helped Togo to the 2006 World Cup.
His tactical nous is of course far superior to that of Csaba, his motivational skills are excellent, and unlike Csaba, he wouldn�t bow to external opinion as regards team selection.

Keshi is now with Mali and his knowledge of West African football qualifies him as the best candidate to help Uganda beat West African opposition Niger and Benin.

Mike Mutebi
The former Cranes coach possesses an eagle-eyed sense of tracing talent. However, managing senior players has always been an Achilles heel.





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Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
Procurement Consultant
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Kigali-Rwanda
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