Uganda/Guinea Bissau: Bissau Game is Key – Obua

Innocent Ndawula

21 March 2011

David Obua has hinted that the Guinea Bissau match will determine Uganda Cranes’ destiny in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Talking to Daily Monitor after a 46-minute cameo for Hearts in their 3-2 win over St. Mirren in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday, the forward thanked President Museveni for giving the Cranes Shs186m to make their trip to Guinea Bissau a reality.

Cranes take on Guinea Bissau on March 26 but the trip was hitherto in doubt after the local soccer governing body, Fufa, revealed they were cash-strapped.

“We owe it to the president. This is not the first time he has rescued the team and it will not be the last. We have to bring back a good result from Bissau,” said Obua, who has struggled for form at Hearts due to injuries.

Obua disclosed that he was scheduled to link up with team captain Ibrahim Sekagya in Brussels today before joining the team in Senegal for a two-day acclimatisation camp tomorrow.

“I am in touch with Ibra. Both of us are eager to see and train with the boys. We are always one happy family,” he said. “My body feels good and is injury free. I have never been pumped up for a match like I am this time round. I will give my best as usual and I know it is the same with the other guys. If all of us give 100%, we should be able to get the result we want.”

Turf fears

The Hearts utility player, who has impressed every time he has donned a Cranes jersey, also allayed fears that the team would struggle on the artificial turf at Lino Correia stadium where the game will be played.

“It’s going to be eleven men against eleven on the same playing field under the same conditions. No one is going to get special treatment and we are not going to be intimidated by the playing surface,” Obua noted.

“People have said lots of things but our squad is full of professionals and that turf won’t be new to them.” Obua missed Cranes’ previous qualifying encounter against Kenya with a hamstring injury but scored the first goal in the 3-0 triumph against Angola on the opening day of the campaign.

After two matches, Cranes are top of Group J with four points, one ahead of Angola and Guinea Bissau.

Kenya are fourth with just one. Victory in Bissau will leave Cranes firmly on track to qualify for the tournament for the first time in 34 years.

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