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It is Stars vs Cranes
2008-05-03 09:00:21
By Somoe Ng\'itu, Mwanza
The national soccer team, Taifa Stars, host Uganda Cranes in the first leg match of the CAF championship meant for domestic players at CCM Kirumba here today.
Stars head coach Marcio Maximo predicted for a tough match as each side will be fighting for a win.
Maximo said that his players were in upbeat mood to outclass the visitors.
``We need a win to make us be in a safer position when we meet them again in the return leg match to be played in Uganda after two weeks,`` Maximo said.
The Brazilian said that he would apply 4-4-2 in the game but the pattern may change according to the tempo of the game.
``We appeal to the lake zone fans to turn up in large numbers to support us the same way they did when we played Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Senegal last year,`` he added.
Lethal striker Ulimboka Mwakingwe who missed the team\'s match against Kenya\'s Harambee Stars due to injury, claimed that Stars would win.
``We have done enough training to beat them on our own soil,`` he added.
The Cranes Laszlo Csaba says he wants a change in formation to surprise Maximo`s charges.
``I intend to use three midfielders instead of the usual four and employ a third striker to limit the hosts attack,`` he said.
He, however, decried the lack of preparations for the game. ``We`ve not had the best of preparations but we shall bank on the players` attitude to get past the Tanzanians,``Csaba added.
The Hungarian born German is confident his midfield can make a difference. Ronald Muganga, Owen Kasule, Dan Wagaluka, Jeremiah Ssebuyira and Stephen Bengo are the midfielders available for selection.
Sensational striker Caesar Okhuti and Geoffrey Sserunkuma are meanwhile expected to shoulder the goal scoring burden.
The game will kick off at 4pm and Minister for Information, Culture and Sports George Mkuchika will be the guest of honour.
Referee Hussein Omar from Somalia will handle the game.
The return leg match will be played in Kampala betweem May 16 and 18 whereby the winner of the two-legged encounter will earn a right to face either Sudan or Rwanda and later qualify for the finals to be held in Ivory Coast in February next year.
Tanzania edged regional rivals Kenya 2-1 on aggregate while The Cranes beat Eritrea 5-2 on aggregate.
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