Uganda Cranes’ winger Sula Matovu and defender Ivan Bukenya are becoming household names on the Asian continent. The pair is on the verge of becoming the first Ugandans to play in the Asia cup final after they guided their Iraqi side, Erbil to a 4-1 defeat against Thailand’s Chonburi, winning the two legs 8-2 on aggregate.
They booked a date with Kuwaiti side Kuwait SC on November 3, but Bukenya says it will be any other game. “Continental football is very competitive here and for us to be in the finals is not going to heaven, It is still football,” said Bukenya.
The feat puts them in pole position to be considered when Bobby Williamson is choosing the side ahead of the upcoming CECAFA Senior Challenge cup next month. “Every footballer’s dream is to represent their country at some stage, it is our prayer that we can be considered,” he added.
The duo’s side became the first club from the country to advance to the final of a continental competition since Al Zawra’a reached the deciding game of the Asian Cup Winners Cup in 2000.
Bukenya joined Erbil in January 2012 and he has participated in every game the club has played since in the domestic and Asian Cup finding the net once. Matovu joined him latter in August, yet to feature in any league action, the winger has played in four continental games. Scoring and assisting once respectively.