Afcon Qualifier 2019, Group L

Saturday, Uganda vs Tanzania 4pm

Mandela National Stadium, Namboole

Charges: 15,000/- (Ordinary), 40,000/- (VIP), 150,000/- (VVIP)

 By Denis West

Uganda Cranes and Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper Denis Onyango is currently the longest serving member of the national team.

Simply put, he speaks with volumes of experience because he has seen it all and has faced the sharpest of strikers.

This Saturday, Onyango will be tasked with keeping at bay Tanzania forward Mbwana Samatta who plies his trade at Belgium side Genk.

He is not fazed at all:

“Well, Samatta has done well for his club in Belgium but I’m not sure much about his national team but we know he is a good player even when he was with TP Mazembe.

“It’s not a one man’s team we should look after every player in the Tanzanian team not only Samatta,” he promised.

He acknowledges the impact on new Taifa Stars coach Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amunike but he is quick to point to the challenge he faces in a new look Uganda Cranes side under Sebastien Desabre.

“I think the new coach will try to motivate them towards our game but at the same time I think they will struggle with the combination and to adapt to the style of football he wants.”

“He would probably ask them to play strong and also the players to try and win the coach because he is new.”

Expect a new look Crane:

“Definitely the team (Cranes) has changed not in teams of players but the playing style and system because these are two different coaches who play different styles of football but all in all the motivation and the ambitions from the players are the same and that’s to take the team back to the Nations Cup final.

On Desabre’s nine months in charge, Onyango says; “Well he loves playing beautiful football and also he loves winning and his principals are very strict. He is very professional in regards to time keeping and respecting the national team because that’s the biggest team in the country.”

Home advantage is key:

“The home advantage works when the team works hard and gets the early goal because is boosts the team and the confidence but football has changed lately because we managed to win away from home against Cape Verde but it all comes from hard work.”