Uganda v Niger
Saturday

Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba will be a relieved man later today.
His prayer to have an array of stars to pick from for tomorrow’s decisive Nations Cup qualifier against Niger has been answered after utility player David Obua - finally allowed by Kaizer Chiefs to fly out - arrives at midday today.
The midfielder will be the last of 15 professionals to set foot in camp at Jokas Hotel after Serbia based Nestory Kizito, who arrived last night.

Reports had indicated that Kaizer Chiefs’ Turkish head coach Mushin Ertugral had denied Obua permission to play for his country in the epic match that could see Uganda snatch one of the two remaining best runner up slots in the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup qualifiers.

The giant South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side however denied allegations of clinging onto Obua.

“We will not prevent any player from honouring a national team call up and David will represent his country,” read a statement on Kaizer Chiefs website, kaizerchiefs.com.

Ertugral, Obua deal
Obua’s availability would not have been possible if it had not been for the timely intervention of Chiefs’ team manager Bobby Kaizer Motaung. It took Motaung’s persuasion to convince Ertugral to let Obua free.

“After training today, I made a deal with the coach that I would only be allowed to travel and play for my country if I promised to be back in South Africa on Monday September 10,” Kaizer Chiefs’ star performer of 2005-06 season told Daily Monitor on phone yesterday evening.

Obua who has been out of action with a thigh injury since June 2 when Uganda recorded a shock 2-1 win over Nigeria said he would be aiming to make a successful return from his three month lay off that saw him miss Amakhosi’s pre – season preparations and three league matches of the current 2007-08 season.

“The bigger they come, the better I get,” joked Obua while answering a question on whether he was under pressure to deliver after being out in the cold for sometime.

“It has been a long time since Uganda last qualified for the Nations Cup and we are on the verge of making it to Ghana. So we cannot let this opportunity slip from our grasp at this late stage. We need to make certain of qualification with a big win on Saturday,” added the player, before inquiring whether skipper Ibrahim Sekagya was already in town.

In yesterday’s evening training session at Mandela National Stadium that was watched by approximately 800 fans, Csaba put the writing clear on the wall that he wanted his troops to be very attack minded on the day.

“We are at home and home advantage must count. We want goals and every player will have to convert any chance he gets so as to save the nation,” said the German born Hungarian tactician.

Csaba also disclosed that league top scorer Hamis Kitagenda was very much in his plans against Niger. “Hamis is a good striker with a hard shot.”