After a 5-year goal drought, Uganda striker Brian Umony feel the time is right break that jinx after scoring five goals at the recent CECAFA-Kagame Cup in Kigali, Rwanda.
The forward, who plays for local side Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) showed glimpses of his old self during a Cranes training at the Namboole Stadium in the build-up to the Group E Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana and Guinea.
He reminded many of his exploits during the 2008 CECAFA Challenge Cup hosted in Uganda, where finished top scorer on five goals. He has however failed to replicate that feat with injuries and bad form affecting his place in the Cranes set-up.
Within a spate of four years, Umony has played in South Africa – Super Sport United (2009/2010) and University of Pretoria (2010/2011), USA – Portland Timbers (2011), Vietnam – Becamex Binh Duong F.C and Tanzania – Azam, on the journey towards the rediscovery of his once dreaded form.
The 25-year old played a huge part in the Cranes reaching this far including the Playoffs against Mauritania, but has yet to find the back of the net.
However, Umony believes his form in Kigali has brought a new air about him going into Uganda’s away trip to Kumasi as guests of Ghana’s Black Stars on Saturday, 6 September 2014.
“I’m on the right track I would say in terms of what I want to go on and achieve. Obviously, with these games coming against Ghana and other qualifiers, it (the five goals) is a confidence booster.”
Umony reckons there is much to do in his quest to get deadlier in front of goal.
“Of course there is still a lot to be done on my part. I need to be clinical enough in terms of finishing and some bits of fitness. There is definitely still work to do but I’m hungry to score for the Cranes again.”
On the Ghana opposition, the striker takes a lot of inspiration from the performance of the Black Stars against eventual winners, Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The Ghanaians held the highly rated Germans to a 2-2 draw, a treat that Umony says he and his colleagues are poised to serve the Black Stars at their backyard in Kumasi.
“Ghana is a great side but they were confident when they faced Germany at the World Cup and we are also ready to give them a hard task. It will not be a walk over for them so we are ready to take on any side. They have ‘world class’ players but it’s our time to show the world the talent in Uganda they have long missed.”
The Cranes will host Guinea four days after the Ghana match in Kampala in the second match of the group phase. Togo is the other team in Group E.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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