Uganda Cranes Vs Turkmenistan preview: The battle for bragging rights

International Friendly Match:

• Sunday, 9^th June 2019: Uganda Cranes Vs Turkmenistan – New York University Stadium, Abu Dhabi (Closed door match) – 10 PM

Uganda Cranes takes on little known Asian country Turkmenistan in the first of the two lined up international friendly matches on Sunday evening.

The match will be played at the New York University Stadium in Abu Dhabi, behind closed doors on request of either federation.

This will be the first ever official meeting between these two countries intended to prepare these respective countries for the up-coming engagements lined up in the near future.

Uganda is currently ranked 79^th on the FIFA Rankings with Turkmenistan at 136^th.

Team News:

Uganda Cranes:

The Uganda Cranes has been camped at the Rotana Hotel in Abu for the past two weeks.

The arrival of experienced diligent midfielder Michael Azira on Friday took the total tally of players in Abu Dhabi to 27 with only goalkeeper Charles Lukwago of the expected yet to report.

However, the Uganda Cranes camp was hit by the sad news about the knee injury to Vipers’ midfielder Moses Waiswa, who has been since ruled out.

Waiswa is expected to fly back home in the coming 24 hours.

Debutants:

If fielded, three Uganda Cranes will earn their first caps for the Uganda Cranes.

Apparently, these are all based in Sweden; exciting winger Abdu Lumala, striker Alexis Bbakka and defender Ronald Brian Mukiibi Ddungu.

The rest of the players are fit and eager to impress the technical team bearing in mind the final 23 man squad for AFCON 2019 will be named on Tuesday, 11^th June 2019.

Uganda Cranes Squad:

Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Jamal Salim (Al Hilal-Sudan), Robert Odongkara (Adama City, Ethiopia)

Defenders: Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam, Tanzania), Brian Ronald Ddungu Mukiibi (Ostersunds, Sweden), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Bevis Mugabi (Yeovil Town, England), Isaac Muleme (FK Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Un attached), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Timothy Denis Awanyi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Godfrey Walusimbi (Un-attached)

Midfielders:  Michael Azira (Montreal Impact, Canada), Allan “Dancing Rasta” Kateregga (Maritzburg, South Africa), William Kizito Luwagga (Shakhter Karagandy, Kazahstan), Khalid Aucho (Church Hill Brothers, India), Faruku Miya (HNK Gorica, Croatia), Abdul Lumala (Syrianska, Sweden), Tadeo Lwanga (Vipers SC-Uganda), Kirizestom Ntambi- Coffee FC, Ethiopia), Sadam Juma (KCCA FC-Uganda)

Strikers: Alexis Bbakka (Carlstad United, Sweden), Patrick Henry Kaddu (KCCA FC, Uganda), Derrick Nsibambi (Smouha, Egypt), Allan Kyambadde (KCCA FC Uganda), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Simba, Tanzania)

Ruled out with a knee Injury: Moses Waiswa (Vipers SC, Uganda)

Turkmenistan:

The Asian country traveled to Dubai on Tuesday this week where they have been conducting their training sessions and practice matches.

Head coach Ante Mise traveled with a 23 man team who are ready to face Uganda Cranes as they prepare for the qualifiers of the Asian cup qualifiers.

This Turkmenistan team has three foreign based players; Arslanmyrat Amanov, plying his trade with FC Lokomotiv Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Indonesian based Artur Gevorkyan who features at FC Persib Bandung and Vahyt Orazsahedov who plays at FC Dordoi in Kyrgyzstan.

The other players either play at FC Altyn Asyr or FC Ahal.

Turkmenistan Squad:

Mamed Orazmuhamedov (FC Altyn Asyr), Batyr Babayev (FC Ahal), Rahat Japarov (FC Kopetdag), Mekan Saparov (FC Altyn Asyr), Gurbangeldi  Batyrov (FC Altyn Asyr), Bakhtiyar Gurgenov (FC Altyn Asyr), Shohrat Soyunov (FC Ahal), Abdy Bashimov (FC Ahal), Gurbanguly Ashirov (FC Ahal), Vezirgeldy Ilyasov (FC Ahal), Merdan Gurbanov (FC Ahal), Serdar Geldiyev (FC Altyn Asyr), Resul Hojaev (FC Altyn Asyr), Mirza Beknazarov (FC Ahal), Guychmyrat Annagulyyev (FC Ashgabat), Dovletmyrat Seyitmuhammedov (FC Kopetdag), Yhlas Magtymov (FC Shagadam), Arslanmyrat Amanov (FC Lokomotiv Tashkent –Uzbekistan), Artur Gevorkyan (FC Persib Bandung – Indonesia), Meylis Diniyev (FC Kopetdag), Altymyrat Annadurdyev (FC Altyn Asyr), Vahyt Orazsahedov (FC Dordoi -Kyrgyzstan), Didar Durdyev (FC Ahal)

Coaching staff:

Charyyarguly Sediyev (Team Delegation Leader), Ante Miše (Head coach), Sandro Tomić (Goalkeeping coach), Maksim Belyh (Coach), Begench Garayev (Coach)

Other Uganda Cranes Matches in Abu Dhabi:

International Friendly Match:

•        Saturday, 15^th June 2019: Uganda Cranes Vs Ivory Coast – Cricket Ground, Abu Dhabi (Open to public)

AFCON 2019 Matches:

• 22^nd June: Uganda Cranes Vs DR Congo
• 26^th June: Zimbabwe Vs Uganda Cranes
• 30^th June: Uganda Cranes Vs Egypt