COSAFA Cup 2019-Plate Semi final
South Africa vs Uganda
Princess Magogo Stadiam, Durban
Tuesday, 04-05-2019 @6pm
After falling from the main COSAFA Championship, Uganda Cranes and their South African counterparts will tussle it out on Tuesday for a place in the plate final.
Both sides suffered shock defeats in their quarter finals game last weekend, both eliminated via penalties.
Uganda fell to Lesotho 3-2 in the shoot-out after a 0-0 draw in normal time, in a game that Abdallah Mubiru’s side dominated and created several goal scoring chances.
Speaking after the last training session on Monday evening, Mubiru said that they relish the chance to play another game and his team will try to take advantage of their opponents.
“We have a chance to play another game in this tournament. Noted Mubiru.
“We take on the hosts South Africa who have a well prepared and good team but they are not intimidating in terms of how they use the ball.
“We will try to take advantage of that and also try not to let them try to find spaces in between us.
Uganda did exactly that against Lesotho but it was the scoring that let them down.
Michael Birungi, Shafick Kagimu, Daniel Isiagi, Dan Sserunkuma and Juma Balinya all had good chances but failed to convert.
Such scenarios have been the main focus in the subsequent training sessions as the team eyes its maiden goal.
“We want to prepare our selves well so as we are better in front of goal unlike in the game against Lesotho, added Mubiru.
“We were building up play well but the issues arose at the business end as we failed to score goals.
“We expect to score goals after working on our short-comings throughout the training sessions we have held since Saturday.
“We want to win because winning is important but we also have to play a brand of football which is beautiful on the eye.
Mubiru is a tactician known for his strong belief in an expansive style of play as evident from how Police FC play.
He is currently standing in for Sebastian Desabre who is with the AFCON side who are camped in Abu Dhabi ahead of the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations.
Mubiru’s side will have their hands full as they take on hosts South Africa.
The Bafana Bafana were eliminated 5-4 on penalties by Botswana last Saturday following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
South Africa are the joint-second most successful nation in the competition’s history with 4 titles.
Their most recent title was sealed in Namibia in 2016 following a 3-2 finals victory over Botswana.
The winner between Uganda and South Africa will take on either Malawi or Comoros in the Plate final slatted for Saturday.
Match facts
This will be the third meeting between Uganda and South Africa since 2004.
In the previous 2, South Africa has triumphed on both occasions, scoring 3 goals whilst conceding just one.
Those two games were in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers with the Bafana Bafana edging Uganda 1-0 in Kampala before upstaging the Cranes 2-1 in Cape Town, in the second leg.
The Uganda Cranes squad in South Africa
Players
Goalkeepers
Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC) and James Alitho (URA FC).
Defenders
Paul Patrick Mbowa (URA FC), Paul Willa (Police), Mustafa Kizza (KCCA FC), John Revita (Express FC), Isaac Isinde(Kirinya-Jinja S.S), Hassan Musana (KCCA FC), Musitafa Mujuzi (Proline FC).
Midfielders
Bright Anukani (Proline), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA FC), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA FC), Nicholas Kasozi (KCCA FC), Allan Kayiwa (Tooro United FC), Paul Mucureezi (Mbarara City FC), Michael Birungi Komunda (Express).
Forwards
Daniel Isiagi Opolot (Al Nasir, Egypt), Juma Balinya (Police FC), Nelson Senkatuka (right Stars FC), Dan Muzeyi Serunkuuma (Vipers SC).
Team Officials
-Leader of Delegation: Richard Ochom
-Team Coordinator: Geofrey Massa
-Head Coach: Abdallah Mubiru
-Assistant Coach: Charles Livingstone Mbabazi
-Goalkeeping coach: Sadiq Wassa
-FUFA Delegate (Kampala Region): Robert Serunjogi
-Team Doctor: Emmanuel Nakabago
-Equipment manager: Frank Bumpejje
-Media Officer: Lawrence Bwanika
