Africa U-17 Qualifiers:
Saturday 28 June 2014
Venue: Phillip Omondi stadium, Lugogo
Uganda U 17 – Seychelles U17
Time: 4pm
Charges: 5,000/ and 10,000/=
Uganda U-17 national side, The Cubs battles Seychelles U-17 in the return leg of the Africa U-17 Youth Championship qualifier at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo on Saturday.
Slim Goal lead:
Uganda leads by a goal advantage following a narrow 2 -1 away victory a fortnight ago at the Unity Stadium in Victoria City of the Indian Ocean Nation.
The aggregate winner is set to host Rwanda next month (between 18 -20th July 2014) in the next qualification match.
Uganda/Seychelles Vs Rwanda winner will battle Zambia for a slot at the African Youth fiesta.
Luwalo and Mpaata Missing in action:
Uganda Cubs is set to miss the services of two important players – midfielder, Luwalo Kipper and striker Imran Mpaata.
The two both suffered ankle injuries in training at the Njeru Artifical turf where the team has been camping ever since it was summoned.
“Kipper and Mpaata are big losses but we shall bear with the situation and drift in the available players”, Matia Lule, the team’s head coach told Kawowo Sports.
Mugume and Okiring Boost:
The team camp was relieved when team skipper Andrew Okiring Isiagi, down with malaria made a miraculous recovery and completed the entire 80 minutes of the last training session held on Friday morning.
Also, Old Kampala s.s student, Ashraf Mugume, who passed the MRI test on Thursday morning is however a great addition to the side.
Mugume can play on either wing and has a special dribbling ability with an eye for a killer pass and final ball upfront.
“We are aware of the impact the two players have on the team. Both have the maturity and composure that none has”, Peter Onen, assistant coach said.
Expected team:
Every coach world over would wish to keep the starting lineup as a secretive as Hell and Heaven.
So, is Matia Lule, Uganda’s Under -17 Head tactician.
“All the players apart from those injured can make the starting team”, he disclosed to Kawowow Sports after the last training session.
From the basis of the last 4 sessions, he is expected to name a non familiar side from the team that started in Victoria City.
Buddo s.s shot stopper, Eric Kibowa will keep his place ahead of Entebbe Airforce’s Ali Ramadhan Mwirusi and Bukalagi’s towering Edward Kasibante.
Team Skipper Andrew Okiring and Alex Komakech will occupy the right and left overlapping fullback positions.
Buddo s.s’ towering Kato Samuel Nemeyimana, the tallest player among the crop and Risah Academy’s Bashir Asiku will all maintain their central defense positions.
A dice on Poloto or Mukalazi:
In any team set up, the central midfield department is the fulcrum of the team system. Kasawo s.s youngster, Juilus Poloto and Musa Mukalazi (St Mary’s Kitende) both play with similar styles and it can take a dice throw to determine who starts ahead of the other.
St Juliana’s Joel Jangeyambe and Risa Academy’s Pius Obuya will be employed on the right and left wings respectively.
For starters, Pius Obuya scored Uganda’s winner away shortly after Seychelles had eqaulized.
Coach Matia’s biological son, Charles Ssebutinde will lead the line with Muhammed Shaban the twin partner as Vice skipper, Emma Olinga joins them from behind in a 3 man attack force.
Stephen Bongomin, the exciting Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye, Eric Oting Cwinyu, Badru Nsubuga and either of the goalies, Ali Mwirusi Ramadhan or Edward Kasibante will make the bench.
Seychelles:
Watching the Seychelles team trained on a soggy Lugogo turf pasted a different impression on what kind of match to expect.
The Islanders looked comfortable on the ball though could easily be dispossessed off the ball.
Headcoach, Gavin Jeanne has already decried the poor state of the Lugogo turf but promised a spirited display away from home.
“Like they beat us away from home, we too can impose a surprise”, Gavin sounded as the team trained after an evening Friday down pour.
Match Officials:
The match will be handled by Sudanese match officials.
The trio of El Fatih Wadeed Khaleel , Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim and Mustafa Ibrahim Medany will be the tasked with the center refereeing, first and second assistant duties respectively.
Mutaz Abdelbasit Abdelbasit Khairalla was appointed as the reserve official while Juilus Elly Mukolwe from Kenya is the match commissioner.
May the better team carry the day.
Prediction:
Uganda Cubs 3 – 1 Seychelles.
