Cranes Are On a High!

Uganda Cranes Paul Edwin Hasule has said Saturday's 1-0 victory over the fancied Black Stars of Ghana in a Nations Cup qualifier at Namboole Stadium was because of a combined team effort and good preparations.

The former Cranes skipper who was the happiest man after the game said his boys had no respect for the many professionals on the Ghana team, and listened to instructions.

"There are always mistakes in football, and I think we also made some. But our team played well as a unit," added Hasule.

He gave credit to his defenders who played their hearts out, and singled out Argentine based professional Ibrahim Sekajja whom he said played his best game ever and gave the back-line stability.

About Livingstone Mbabazi who failed to show-up for the game, Hasule said that was indiscipline of the highest order because a lot of money had been spent on the player to come to Kampala, but he had disappeared.

"Mbabazi left camp on Saturday morning and went to Kenya Airways to sort out his departure issues since he was leaving on Sunday. But when we called him about lunch time, he said he would find us at the Namboole gate. He did not show-up and we don't know where he is now," said Hasule.

The coach also gave a lot of credit to goal scorer Fred Okello who he said, despite his first call-up, played well and didn't give the Ghanaians time to settle.

"I thank God we won this big game when I am the captain. There is no bad win, all we have to do is keep together," said Cranes skipper Timothy Batabaire who leaves for Belguim this week for professional trials.

Defender Phillip Obwiny who had a good game and unleashed the shot that was touched in by Okello for the goal said, " I felt so good that I decided to take the shot. We won because of good preparations and teamwork."

Okello himself said: "I am happy I had a touch on that ball entered the net. But I was determined to play well since I had not had a bad game against Zambia in the build-up."

Hakim Magumba, who gave the Ghanaians a run for their money in the heart of midfield said, "I was happy we won the game and we also learnt some things by playing against professionals. I had the confidence we could win because we were at home and knew the Ghana team could undermine us."

Striker Hassan Mubiru said: "Ghana was a strong team, but I am happy we won. We played as a team, and although I did not score, I am happy someone else did to give us the much needed win."

Argentine based professional Sekajja, who played his heart out and is meant to fly out on Wednesday, said he had enjoyed himself.

"I got elbowed and stitched, but we had a good game and it felt good beating a team that has a lot of professionals. I will always be available for national duty," he promised.

The match, attended by close to 25,000 fans including several dignitaries and entire families, grossed a Namboole-record Shs 92m.

The Cranes next play Rwanda in March 2003.

The players will at 11:00am this morning get their Shs 5m bonus for the win from GAPCO.

Before their next qualifier, The Cranes will have rehearsals in the Castle Lager Cup in October, and the East and Central Challenge Cup in December in Tanzania.