Stars fail to get training ground in Luanda

By GILBERT WANDERAWhen national team coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno opted to travel early to Angola for this weekend's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, many thought he had made the right decision.
After all he had at least four days to prepare away without interruption and glare of local media and a curious, anxious public.
But the coach may have made a big blunder as he discovered when the team landed in Luanda on Tuesday afternoon.
First the team did not get a training ground when they asked for one on arrival and by Wednesday afternoon were yet to hold a single training session.
Otieno may end up having only a single session which may not be enough considering that he has not seen more than half of the players he travelled with to Angola.
Players we talked to in Angola said the situation is bad but not unexpected.
"I had warned the team to expect such treatment. We are not even sure when or where the match will be played. We hear it may be 45km away from the capital," said striker Allan Wanga.
Wanga should know better. He spent two seasons playing in Angola before returning home briefly and eventually got a contract in Vietnam.
Team captain Dennis Oliech said the person who dropped them in their hotel had disappeared and they cannot get hold of him regarding where they ought to train.
"We are just sitting in the hotel looking at each other. We have not trained and we do not know when that will happen. Apparently our hosts were expecting us on Friday.
"The team officials have tried to get hold of the person who dropped us at the hotel but they cannot. He has turned off his phone hence cannot be reached but we are hoping for the best," he said.
Oliech also claimed the team has been put up in a sub-standard hotel in Luanda.
Many people had questioned the wisdom of travelling to Luanda early considering past frustrations meted out on local teams.
Across the border, Uganda Cranes have upped their preparations ahead of their weekend fixture against Guinea Bissau.
The two teams are in the same group with Kenya and Angola in the Nations Cup qualifiers.
On Wednesday the country’s Democratic Party (DP) pledged Sh1 million to the Uganda Cranes player who will score the first goal against Guinea Bissau on Saturday.
DP president Norbert Mao Wednesday told journalists at the party headquarters that the party was waiting to fill the name of the first Cranes player to score on the Sh1m cheque.
"The cheque is ready; it is our humble gift to the Uganda Cranes just to motivate them," Mao was quoted in the New Vision.
Mao added that if Cranes achieve victory, they would be guaranteed financial support from the country’s oldest party.