Uganda Cranes Regional Tours 2017:
- 23rd April, 2017
- West Nile Select Vs Uganda Cranes
- At Bar Okoro Stadium, Zombo (4 p.m kick off)
For the record, Uganda Cranes has only lost once in all the Regional Tour trips conducted across the country since 2014.
It was against West Nile select side at the Green Light stadium in Arua that Ceasar Olega’s lone strike condemned Uganda Cranes to a 1-0 defeat.
Then coached by Allan Kabonge Kivewala and assisted by Bosco Dudu the West Nile select team played their hearts out, posting arguably the best and most challenging performance for the national team since the idea of the Regional Tours was born.
After that match, Uganda Cranes head Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic hailed the passion and fighting spirit of the West Nile players and fans alike.
Two years later, Micho and the Uganda Cranes return to West Nile, this time round in Paidha to face the regional select time.
On 23rd April 2017, all roads will lead to the Bar Okoro Stadium in Zombo district for the historic match.
Like the Arua match, this game will be a complete sale out affair as the local fans in the football mad region are dying to catch their stars live in action.
This time round, Dudu will coach the West Nile team alongside the tried and tested Swaib Sabasaba Waku.
The duo have released a strong 25 man squad consisting of 12 Uganda Premier League players.
Goalkeeper Alionzi Nafian (URA) as well as the Onduparaka duo of Richard Anyama and Kassim Nisar are joined by a cast of outfield players from Onduparaka, Proline, Bul and Bright Stars.
Gasper Adriko, Norman Saddam, Gadafi Wahab, Faizal Ibrahim, Rashid Agua and the tormentor at Green Light Ceasar Olega are all from Onduparaka.
Proline has Gift ‘Gigi’ Ali, Victor Aweko is from Bright Stars and Villa Oromochan of Jinja club, BUL completes the list of top tier players.
A bulk of the players is from the FUFA Big League where Paidha Black Angels has contributed a lion’s share of players, followed by Doves All Stars.
The others are Regional League players from Nebbi Central, FHL Adjumani, Hot Springs and Koboko Rising Stars.
Solomon Ovoyo from Nkumba University and Peter Drici from Biyaya Secondary School are the only two student players on the team.
Dudu has disclosed to Kawowo Sports that they are ready to prove to Uganda Cranes that the first win in Arua was not a fluke.
The reason we have named a very strong team is to prove to the doubting Thomases that our first win against Uganda Cranes in Arua was not by accident.
West Nile region has so many talented players who deserve to play on the main stream national team on merit.
Players as Rashid Toha, Shaban Muhammed and Vitalis Tabu were not included on the West Nile team because we have a feeling that could be called on the National side.
But still, with or without them, this team is good enough to beat Uganda Cranes on any day.
At the moment, we are in the process of writing official letters to the clubs where the players play from although all the players have consented and expressed willingness to play.
The West Nile team training starts Monday 17th April, 2017 in Zombo.
Micho, who is currently out of the country on official duty is closing monitoring West Nile’s preparations.
He is expected to name the Uganda Cranes team during a press conference to be held next Wednesday at FUFA House in Mengo.
The main purpose of such tours among others is to take the national team brand closer to the fans in the respective localities.
Uganda Cranes last Regional Tour match was a 3-0 win against Eastern Region Select team in Kamuli last month.
West Nile Select team:
Goalkeepers: Alionzi Nafian (URA), Richard Anyama and Kassim Nisar (Onduparaka)
Defenders: Gasper Adriko, Norman Sadam (Onduparaka), Aniku Oso De Jong, AbdulRahman Andima (Doves All Stars), Sabir Rajah Nesta, Khalid Odagiu (Paidah Black Angels), Rashid Okocha (Nebbi central)
Midfielders: Wahab Gadafi, Faizal Ibrahim and Ceasar Olega (Onduparaka), Gift Ali (Proline), Victor Aweko (Bright Stars), Creamio Abong (Paidah Black Angels), Peter Drici (Biyaya), Brian Olega (Doves All Stars), William Ovoyo (Nkumba University), Khemis Akbar (Hot Spring), Mahad Swaibu (FHL Adjumani)
Forwards: Villa Oromchan Villa (Bul), Fred Amaku (Paidah Black Angels), Rashid Agau (Onduparaka ), Ali Swalii (Koboko Rising Stars)
Technical: Swaib Sabasaba Waku and Bosco Dudu