Stars-Cranes: Coach Silenced

SOMETIMES patriotism must stand before facts and it is from this that a ban has been slapped on Cranes coach Mohammed Abbas over his erratic comments. Officials met here on Wednesday evening and ruled that only chief de mission John Matovu will be speaking to the press.

This followed Abbas' comments moments after arriving in Ghana. He told local pressmen that the team was ill prepared, there was infighting within FUFA and that Cranes had trained for only five days, which comments could jeopardise Sunday's encounter in Kumasi, 200km from Accra.

“The players are hungry to go. They talented but the team trained for only five days my friends. That is not enough to take on such a big team,” he told reporters at the airport.

“We have agreed that only Matovu is to speak to the press,” said Jasper Aligawesa after the meeting.

Ghanaians are meanwhile looking for options to counter Uganda's attack after the dropping of Hassan Mubiru, the person they believed would lead Cranes striking role in the encounter.

Ghana was more prepared for Mubiru, who they say kept their defenders busy during their 1-all draw last year. Phillip Ssozi, who scored the goal in Kampala is also not on the team.

They have been reviewing tapes where Mubiru featured prominently last year. Ghana must beat the hapless Cranes to stay on course for their first appearance at the World Cup in Germany and also pray that South Africa lose to Burkina Faso.