He hasn’t played competitive football since January 2014 in Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) but midfielder Hassan Wasswa has made Cranes’ coach Mulitin “Micho’ Sredojevic‘s 35 man squad for the upcoming 2015 AFCON qualifiers.
Besides, before CHAN finals in South Africa, Wasswa had last featured for his club KCC FC in October but Micho says his experience is key if the Cranes are to reach their first ever AFCON finals since 1978.
Asked why he included a player that has been out for such a long period, Micho who started by telling the media that they have summoned a squad of 34 players on all possible sporting merit and one player (without mentioning the name) just because of his experience.
“We have summoned 34 players on all possible sporting merit and called one player to see what he can add to the team even if it’s not against Madagascar,” started Micho.
It should be noted that Hassan Wasswa is currently suspended by his club KCC FC for matters of indiscipline and hasn’t played for the Lugogo side since October but Micho says he is no politician but coach so he has a right to call a player for national duty if he needs him and believes Wasswa’s experience will be key in the campaign even if he doesn’t play any part in the Madagascar game.
“I am here not as a politician but as a coach. Basing on that, you need to understand that in front of us we don’t only have Madagascar game but our ambition is to reach AFCON finals,” Micho explained.
“Now with the dispute between the club and the player, I have no right to tell that this is right or wrong. The only thing I know is Wasswa is one of the few players who have attained many caps with the team,” he added.
“He is one of the players I prefer to call the backbone of the team due to his experience. Denis Onyango, Tonny Mawejje, Geoffrey Massa, Andrew Mwesigwa and Hassan Wasswa are the most experienced players on the team.”
Micho took a swipe at KCC FC for not using Wasswa in their CAF Champions league engagements believing they would have gone further they did with Wasswa’s experience.
“In this regard, if it was bit sporting logic or common sense, yesterday Uganda would have had a club in the draw for CAF Confederations Cup group stages but I won’t go into that,” Micho hinted.
Meanwhile, the Serb who will kick start his first full qualifiers campaign also explained why left fullback Godfrey Walusimbi and striker Brian Umony didn’t make the squad.
“Walusimbi’s red card against Senegal in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers implies he can’t feature against Madagascar whilst Umony is injured,” Micho explained.
The ex-Rwanda coach however says the door is still open for other players since the campaign is a bit tight citing that players like Michael Azira, Brian Umony, Robert Ssentongo and Simeon Masaba will have their chance.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Wit University – South Africa), Robert Odongkara (St George – Ethiopia), Ismail Watenga (Vipers SC), Benjamin Ochan (SCVU)
Defenders: Andrew Mwesigwa (Ordabasy – Kazakhstan), Savio Kabugo (SCVU), Ochaya Joseph (Asante Kotoko), Alex Kakuba (FC Covilha), Isaac Muleme (SCVU), Denis Iguma (SCVU), Nicolas Wadada (Vipers SC), Joseph Owino (Simba SC – Tanzania), Isaac Isinde (St George – Ethiopia), Henry Kalungi (Richmond Kickers), Ivan Bukenya (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa),
Midfielders: Aucho Khalid (Gor Mahia), Geofrey Baba Kizito (Gor Mahia – Kenya), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Unattached), Gaddafi Kiwanuka (KCC), Kiziito Luwagga, Tonny Mawejje (Haugesund, Norway), Ivan Ntege (KCC), Allan Kyambadde (Express), Moses Oloya (Binh Doung, Vietnam), Martin Mutumba (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Brian Majwega (KCC, Uganda).
Strikers: Geofrey Massa (Pretoria University, South Africa), Emmanuel Okwi (Yanga – TZ), Hamis Kizza (Yanga -TZ), Dan Sserunkuma (Gor Mahia), Tonny Odur, Herman Wasswa (KCC, Uganda), Francis Olaki (Soana) and Yunus Sentamu (As Vita, DR Congo)
