Bobby turns focus on Cranes stamina

Burundi should expect a ‘sprint’ surprise from Uganda Cranes during the second leg of the Africa Nations Championship at Namboole on Saturday.
Yesterday, Cranes coach Bobby Williamson took the back seat as long distance athlete Janet Achola and her coach Kevin O’Connor took the team through a one-hour session aimed at boosting fitness and endurance levels. “A national team needs an athletics director. This is a fitness programme that we must implement,” Williamson noted while applauding Achola and O’Connor’s contribution. “Players need to have staying power. They must last more than 100 minutes on the field.” The first leg ended 1-all and a similar result will send the game into extra time which translates into 120 minutes of running. “In the first leg, we faded badly in the second half so such drills have a telling addition to our preparations,” the Scot added.

Midfielders Musa Mudde, Owen Kasule, Manko Kaweesa and Noah Ssemakula plus wingers Simon Sserunkuma and Sula Matovu were cited by Williamson as players with the ability to carry the team forward. “They must represent the dynamism of the team,” he explained.

“There is need to be identified with a different style. We need to raise the tempo of the game with lots of continuous movement and intense exchanges. That way, we can move the ball down the field with a lot of pace,” added the national coach.