AFCON 2019 Qualifiers (Group L): Cape Verde Vs Uganda
Saturday, 10th June 2017
Estádio da Várzea, Praia City
Galatasaray S.K forward Garry Mendes Rodrigues, born in the Netherlands but nationalized to play for Cape Verde is among the foreign legion of players to lead the islanders against Uganda Cranes when the two countries face off in the opening group L of the AFCON 2019 qualifier in Praia city.
Rodrigues will be joined by Ryan Mendes, another Turkish based player who turns out for Kayserispor Football Club.
The duo are some of the players summoned by Cape Verde head coach Lúcio Antunes.
With the exception of defender Valdevindes Monteiro Vally who features for Progresso L. Sul in Angola, the rest of the players play outside Africa.
Spartak Moscow’s Jose Luis Andrade, who has recently won the Russian Premier league is the other star on the day.
Others are Carols Rodrigues of Chaves in Portgual, Kevin Oliveira of Swope Park Rangers in USA and Ramos Heldon who plays with William Luwagga Kizito in Rio Ave in Portugal, among others.
The players summoned will assemble in Portugal from Monday 29th May 2017 for a six day training camp before flying to Cape Verde.
The match will take place on Saturday 10th June at the Cape Verde national stadium in Praia.
Meanwhile, the foreign based players for Uganda Cranes are expected in the country on Monday.
Sessions kick off on Tuesday before departure on Thursday for Addis Ababa training camp that will culminate into an international friendly match on Saturday, June 3rd 2017.
Uganda will then play a second international friendly match against Senegal in Dakar three days later.
The two important build up matches are meant to prepare the Cranes against Cape Verde for the match slated on 10th June 2017 at the Estádio da Várzea Arena in Praia City.
Cape Verde Summoned team:
Goalkeepers – Vozinha (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Thierry Graça (Estoril, Portugal), Ivan Cruz Somada (Gil Vicente, Portugal)
Defenders – Valdevindes Monteiro Vally (Progresso L. Sul – Angola), Ianique Tavares Stopira (Videoton, Hungria), Tiago Almeida (Moreirense, Portugal), Steven Pereira (MVV Maastricht, Holand), Jeffrey Fortes (Excelsior, Holand), Gégé (Paços Ferreira, Portugal), Babanco (Feirense, Portugal), Jozimar Lima (FC Emmen, Holland), Carlos Tavares ‘Carlitos’ (Omonia, Cyprus), Kevin Oliveira (Swope Park Rangers, USA)
Midfielders – Sérgio Semedo (Apollon Limassol – Cyprus), Carlos Rodrigues (Ponk) (Chaves – Portugal), Hélder Tavares (Tondela – Portugal), Jamiro Monteiro (Sc Cambuur – Netherlands), Wuilito Fernandes (Orange County SC – USA), Jimmy Inês (Académica – Portugal), Jovane Cabral (Sporting B – Portugal), Marco Soares (AEL Limassol, Cyprus)
Forwards: José Luis Andrade (Spartak Moscow – Russia), Heldon Ramos (Rio Ave – Portugal), Julio Tavares (Dijon – France), Garry Rodrigues (Galatasaray – Turkey), Ryan Mendes (Kayserispor – Turkey)