KAMPALA –The Sand Cranes – Uganda’s national beach soccer team left for Senegal on Wednesday morning aboard an Ethiopian Airlines plane, ahead of the Afcon tournament slated for May 23 – 29.
Kampala Region delegate in the Fufa assembly – Hamid Juma led the team – comprising 15 players and nine officials.
St. Lawrence University Beach Soccer team, contributed eight players of the travelling squad, with Makerere University Business School and Buganda Royal adding the other staff.
The team had spent two weeks in a residential camp at the Fufa Technical Centre – Njeru under coach Salim Muwonge.
Muwonge said on Wednesday that he was opportunistic that his team would compete favourably at the championship following their training at Njeru.
“We have had good training for the championship and we expect to compete at the tournament. The players are in the right mood – mentally and physically,” Fufa website quotes Muwonge as saying.
The Sand Cranes are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Senegal. Uganda’s opening game will be against Tanzania before facing hosts Senegal and the other neighbours – DR Congo in group stages.
Uganda Sand Cranes qualified for the Beach Soccer finals automatically after opponents Ghana withdrew from the tournament. This is the first time Uganda is playing in the finals of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Meddie Kibirige (St Lawrence University BSC), Nasser Lwamunda (Kiringente BSC), and Ronald Mutebi (St Lawrence University BSC)
Defenders: Paul Lule (Buganda Royal BSC), Davis Kasujja (MUBS BSC), Douglas Muganga (MUBS BSC), Rica Byaruhanga (St Lawrence University BSC), Kikonyogo Jonathan (St Lawrence University BSC), Suleiman Ochero (St. Lawrence University BSC)
Forwards: Ismail Kawawulo (MUBS BSC), Baker Lukooya (St Lawrence University BSC), Emmanuel Wasswa (St Lawrence University BSC), Swaley Ssimbwa (St. Lawrence University BSC), Ambrose Kigozi (Buganda Royal BSC), Ronald Magwali (Buganda Royal BSC)
Officials:
Leader of delegation: Hamid Juma
Head coach: Salim Jamal Muwonge
Assistant Coach: Bashir Mutyaba
UBSA Chairman: Deo Mutabazzi
UBSA Delegate: Anthony Tumwesigye
Team Doctor: Ivan Kulika
Team Co-ordinator: Tonny Ssebagala
Media Officer: Julius Mutebi Bazzeketta
Fufa Secretariat: Isaac Natukunda
