Overview:
The veterans on the team include Brian Nkuubi Ssemakula, Jonathan Kikonyogo, Paul Lule, Ambrose Kigozi, Joshua Lubwama Letti, Alex Emmanuel Wasswa, Peter Mukwata as well as four goalkeepers; Ronald Mutebi, Meddie Kibirige, Rogers Omedwa and Edward Kasibante. The team conducts two sessions per day. The first ever CECAFA beach soccer championship will volley off on 6th June 2025 in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa.
It is a fresh lease of life for the Uganda national beach soccer team, the Sand Cranes.
A couple of new faces in the playing docket and a new technical team is the composition of the team preparing for the 2025 CECAFA beach soccer championship.
Former national team beach soccer players Arch Rica Byaruhanga, Geofrey Akabwai and Baker Lukooya are now in charge of the team currently pitched camp at the Bamboo Gardens Beach Soccer Arena in Kasanje, Katabi Town Council, Wakiso district.
Byaruhanga and Akabwai are co-coaches, assisted by Lukooya.
The veterans on the team include Brian Nkuubi Ssemakula, Jonathan Kikonyogo, Paul Lule, Ambrose Kigozi, Joshua Lubwama Letti, Alex Emmanuel Wasswa, Peter Mukwata, Sharif Oppuuli, and Sharif Lubega as well as four goalkeepers: Ronald Mutebi, Meddie Kibirige, Rogers Omedwa and Edward Kasibante.
“We aim to make a strong statement at this year’s regional competition with a good mix of experienced players and emerging talent drawn from various beach soccer clubs and institutions across the country,” Byaruhanga revealed.
Some of the new faces on the national team are: Michael Kuol (London College of St. Lawrence), Steven Nyalimo (Mutoola), Benon Niyonzima (Unattached), Sison Niwesasira (Standard High Zana), Godfrey Edweu (Teso College Aloet), Junior Kagezi (MS-Sandlions), Deus Turyamuhika (Makerere University Business School), Thomas Lasu Lomoro (Makerere University Business School) and Joseph Ssendi Kabona (Buganda Royal Institute).
The team conducts two sessions per day. The first-ever CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship will kick off on 6th June 2025 in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa.
Hosts Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Tanzania are some of the confirmed teams.
Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers:
Meddie Kibirige (Kampala City), Ronald Mutebi (Unattached), Edward Kasibante (Buganda Royal Institute), Rogers Omedwa (Kampala City)
Defenders:
Jonathan Kikonyogo (St. Lawrence University), Paul Lule (Kampala City), Sharif Oppuuli (Kampala City), Peter Mukwata (Mutoola), Sharif Lubega (St. Lawrence University), Micheal Kuol (London College of St. Lawrence)
Forwards:
Alex Emmanuel Wasswa (Kampala City), Brian Nkuubi Ssemakula (Kampala City), Joshua Letti Lubwama (Kampala City), Ambrose Kigozi (Kampala City), Steven Nyalimo (Mutoola), Benon Niyonzima (Unattached), Sison Niwesasira (Standard High Zana), Godfrey Edweu (Teso College Aloet), Junior Kagezi (MS-Sandlions), Deus Turyamuhika (Makerere University Business School), Thomas Lasu Lomoro (Makerere University Business School), Joseph Ssendi Kabona (Buganda Royal Institute)
Technical Bench:
- Co-Coaches: Arch Rica Byaruhanga & Geofrey Akabwai
- Assistant Coach: Baker Lukooya
- Team Doctor: Ivan Kulika
- Team Manager: Tonny Ssebagala