Uganda Cranes Regional tours 2017 (Eastern)
- Sunday, 19th March 2017:
- Eastern Region Select Vs Uganda Cranes , 4:00pm
- At Kamuli Town council play ground
Twenty players turned up at the Nelson Mandela National stadium for the first training session of Uganda Cranes ahead of the Eastern Region tour.
Head coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic, fresh from a brief holiday in Ethiopia was on time to conduct the session with his assistants Moses Basena and Fred Kajoba (Goalkeeping coach).
Majority of the new players on the team looked timid at first but grew in confidence as the session progressed.
Team skipper Emmanuel Arnold Okwi was as fresh as his current club form at SC Villa spells with inch close ball close, perfect runs on and off the ball as well the most need ingredient from center forwards – scoring.
Okwi disclosed to Kawowo Sports after the session that the return to the team is a beam of hope for the revival of his international career.
It feels good to be back to the Uganda Cranes.
It is every player’s dream to be here (play for the Uganda Cranes).
I will continue working hard to serve my country whenever needed.
Micho, who warmly hugged Okwi at the start of the two hour session said the tour to the Eastern Region is a blessing and an opportunity as well to act as the first filter towards the team’s preparations for CHAN 2018, FIFA 2018 and AFCON 2019 qualifiers.
When we play in Kamuli, it will be the first filter for the team before we travel to Kenya next week for the international build up and then return for a match against the French Militants.
Missed session:
There are three players who failed to come for the training session.
Express midfielder and captain Ibrahim Saddam Juma, Police left back Araft Ggaliwango and striker Hood Kaweesa missed for different reasons.
The tours are jointly sponsored by Uganda Cranes main sponsor Airtel Uganda Limited and partner Nile Breweries Limited under the flagship brand, Nile Special.
The players who trained on Friday:
Goalkeepers: Nicholas Sebwato (Bright Stars FC), Keni Saidi (Proline FC), Muhammed Ssekebba (Mbarara City FC)
Full backs: Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa Jogoo), Allan Drajua (Kirinya-Jinja S.S), Hassan Musana (JMC Hippos)
Central defenders: Brian Nsubuga (Masavu), Savio Kabugo (Proline), Allan Anguyo (Maroons), Rashid Toha (Onduparaka)
Holding Midfielders: Hudu Mulyki (URA), Abel Eturude (SC Villa Jogoo), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo)
Attacking midfielders: Shafiq Kagimu (URA), Kizza Martin (SC Villa Jogoo), Living Kabong (Onduparaka), Vitalis Tabu (SC Villa Jogoo)
Attackers: Emmanuel Okwi (SC Villa), Nelson Senkatuka (Proline), Villa Oromochan (BUL)