Uganda Cranes Coach, Sebastien Desabre, may be just one month into the job but he is already feeling the public pressure following Cranes’ terrible performance at the 2018 CHAN finals in Morocco.
The Cranes bowed out without a single win in their three group games in Marrakech.
Some Ugandans attributed Cranes poor performance to the fact that Desabre was new was still getting acclimatised on job.
But on Wednesday during a press briefing, the Frenchman gave his assessment of what went wrong in Morocco.
For starters, Desabre in his French accent made it clear that the CHAN finals came too early for him.
A man who took over the job on December 28th 2018, he admitted that it was always going to be a challenge for him to make an impact in a tournament that came less than a month after his unveiling.
He revealed that the team he took to the North African country was already selected and he barely knew the players.
“I discovered the players late but my first evaluation of the team is that the team is correct tactically. But my main focus is the physical development of the players,” Desabre said.
The 41 year-old acknowledged that the CHAN experience made him discover things that will be a major focus for him to improve the game of football in Uganda.
The coach also highlighted the key areas he wants to focus on going forward.
“ I want to focus on 3 aspects first, “he said.
The aspects are:
- The relationship and interaction with the clubs (coaches) is very important
- The regularity of friendlies which help them adapt to my principal philosophy.
- Improving the physical level of the players, which he says is a big responsibility for him.
“We have good players technically, we also have clever players but when it comes to a game of high intensity we need correct physical levels of the players”, he noted.
The coach said incase his assistance is needed by the clubs, he is available.
On Tuesday he watched the Uganda Premier League game between the Kitende based side Vipers FC and Onduparaka and revealed that he noticed some great talent that missed out on the CHAN experience.
He however said he would continue would continue to watch league games and monitor players from their respective clubs.
Desabre’s next game on the menu is the big clash between hosts KCCA FC and SC Villa at the Star Times stadium, Lugogo, today.