FOOTBALL–With just over a week to the World Cup qualifier against Congo Brazzaville, Uganda Cranes are already intensifying preps for the game.
The Cranes held their second training session at Mandela National stadium on Thursday morning attended by 21 players.
“Our preparations have been greatly affected by the ongoing Azam Uganda Premier League,” said interim coach Moses Basena.
Asked about why he choose to call several foreign based players yet there is no chance of qualification and the CHAN tournament around the corner, Basena said:
“Yes I know that the CHAN tournament is just over two months away and a cannot qualify for the World Cup so everyone expects that I use a team that will play in Morocco come January,” he said.
“The reason why i invited the likes of Onyango(Denis) and Okwi (Emmanuel) is because I think that they form the core of our national side,” he added.
Moses Basena who is one of the many applicants who wish to become the next substantive coach of the Uganda Cranes also said the ongoing vetting did not disorganise him.
“Yes, I submitted my application for the job (Cranes head coach) and I will be waiting to see if I get the node,” he said.
Cranes will go into the Brazzaville game four points behind group E leaders Egypt who already qualified for the football show piece in Russo come June next year.
The players who attended the Thursday Uganda Cranes morning training session at Namboole
Tom Ikara (GK), Saidi Keni (GK), Bernard Muwanga, Savio Kabugo, Timothy Awanyi, Joseph Nsubuga, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Isaac Muleme, Dumba Sadala, David Owori, Pius Obuya, Muzamir Mutyaba, Allan Kyambade, Albert Mugisa, Daniel Isiagi, Paul Mucureezi, Shafik Kagimu, Hood Kaweesa, Derrick Nsibambi , Milton Karisa & Nelson Senkatuka.
