International Build Up:
Zanzibar Sand Heroes 4 – 5 Uganda Sand Cranes
In what will go down in the history of Ugandan football, Uganda Sand Cranes overcame the Zanzibar Sand Heroes in the first ever international beach football match for the visitors played at the Bamboo Sand beach in Bububu on Sunday.
Brian Nkuubi starred with two goals that were supplemented by goals from skipper Derrick Tekko, Roch Somoka and Baker Lukooya for the Uganda Sand Cranes.
This is a milestone and it has exposed us to a lot of things ahead of the upcoming AFCON 2015 Championships
Hamza Junju, head of technical issues told Kawowo Sports after the game.
In the match proper watched by a lively capacity crowd, the hosts took the lead through their team captain, Saleh Yusuf as early as the 5th minute.
Their joy was however short lived as Uganda quickly made amends when team captain, Derrick Tekko led by example with a stunning equalizer on 8 minutes.
Uganda Sand Cranes striker, Brian Nkuubi scored a brace
Three minutes later, substitute, Roch Somoka (in for Brian Nkuubi) gave the Sand Cranes the lead for the first time in the game and it was not long when center referee, Ali Mwebe signaled end of the first period.
The Zanzibar heroes had a very physical first period with a lot of shooting at Uganda’s goal
Patrick Lugemwa, who traveled with the team as media officer said.
The second period of the game resumed on a high note for the Sand Cranes.
Baker Lukooya and Brian Nkuubi extended the lead before Yakob Mohad Nassol reduced the deficit and the score line read 4 – 2 in favour of Uganda by the close of the second period business.
The third and last period produced three goals – Nkuubi netting the 5th strike for the visitors and the Zanzibar heroes pulling a late surge with two well executed strikes.
The celebrations from the entire Ugandan technical bench at the full time whistle spoke volumes.
Uganda Beach Soccer team applaud fans after the game played at the Bamboo beach in Zanzibar.
Uganda Sand Cranes had recorded the first ever victory on the very first attempt on the sand.
“It has been a worthwhile experience bearing in mind, this was our very first outing on standard fine sand and the full size sand pitch” Deo Mutabaazi in an exclusive interview with Kawowo Sports said.
The team is set to embark on another 1030 KM return journey back to Kampala in the bus, making it 2060 KM worth of success.
Uganda and Zanzibar are two of the nations preparing for the upcoming AFCON 2015 finals that will take place in Seychelles come April 2015.
