Uganda Cranes camp at Serene Suites Mutundwe has been boosted by the timely arrival of veteran midfielder Tonny Mawejje and defender Murushid Jjuuko.
Mawejje, featuring for Icelandic club Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur missed the team’s opening sessions on Monday held at Paradise Fitness Gym, Kabira Country Club and later in the day at IUIU Girls Campus, Kaboja.
Joining Mawejje on the absentee list was Simba defender, Murushid Jjuuko who has been sidelined with a head injury since the Uganda Cranes 1-0 victory against Congo Brazzaville.
Mawejje and Jjuuko are two key pillars for the national team and their contribution has been immense time immemorial throughout the different qualification campaigns.
The team is running on a three sessions – a day programme in a bid to boost fitness levels according to the head coach, Milutin Sredejovic.
We want to attain full fitness for the players as we head for the planned training camps. This is the reason why we are training three times a day.
Uganda plans two different training camps in Tunisia and Dubai.
This is however, subject to the availability of funds that were promised by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
There is a growing fear for the coach (Micho) that his intended plans could be sabotaged by the funds availability.
I am not in position to talk about (funds availability or not) that but my technical plan and preparations have been done already. We only wait for the money to execute the training camps plan and international friendly matches lined up.
Uganda Cranes return to the AFCON finals after a 38 year absence.
In Gabon, they are pooled in group D against giants Egypt, Ghana and Mali, a group that will be based in Port Gentil.
The Uganda Cranes in camp:
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga (Vipers, Uganda), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA, Uganda)
Defenders: Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Ronald Mukiibi (Östersunds FK, Sweden), Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa Jogoo, Uganda), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers, Uganda), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda), Shafiq Batambuze (Tusker, Kenya), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA, Uganda), Richard Kassaga Jjuuko (URA, Uganda), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Rashid ‘Mertasacker’ Toha (Onduparaka, Uganda)
Midfielders: Tonny Mawejje (Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur, Iceland), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Vipers, Uganda), Kizito Kezironi (Vipers, Uganda), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA, Uganda), Ibrahim Saddam Juma (Express, Uganda), Godfrey ‘Jajja Walu’ Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Paul Mucurezi (KCCA, Uganda), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa, Uganda) and Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu (SC Villa, Uganda)
Strikers: Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCCA, Uganda), Muhammed ‘Jaggarson’ Shaban (Onduparaka, Uganda), Yunus Sentamu (Ilves, Finnland), Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA, Uganda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers, Uganda)
