Overview:
For instance, Enock Ssebagala played for NEC last season but is attached to Vipers while KCCA’s Herbert Achai, Lazaro Muhindo Bwambale and Ivan Ahimbisibwe were summoned from Express, Kitara and URA respectively.
The final Uganda Cranes squad for the CHAN 2024 has been named by coach Morley Byekwaso.
Byekwaso and his assistant Fred Muhumuza had picked a 41-man training squad in June with the group trimmed to 29 a fortnight later.
Then three more players were dropped for the trip to Arusha where they played Tanzania and Senegal in the build up matches and one more left out as the final squad was named on Monday.
The compilation of the 25-man squad comes from just six Uganda Premier League clubs; Vipers, KCCA, Villa, BUL, NEC and Kitara.
Reigning premier league winners and Uganda Cup holders Vipers and KCCA have the most representation with 8 players each.
However, logically, some of the players attached to these clubs were picked on form from their previous clubs where they played last season and are yet to play a game for their current sides they joined in the current transfer window.
For instance, Enock Ssebagala played for NEC last season but is attached to Vipers while KCCA’s Herbert Achai, Lazaro Muhindo Bwambale and Ivan Ahimbisibwe were summoned from Express, Kitara and URA respectively.
That would literally leave KCCA with only five players on the team as per last season and seven for Vipers while giving NEC, Kitara and URA more numbers.
SC Villa is next in queue in terms of representatives on the team with four players; Elvis Ngonde, Patrick Kakande, Arnold Odong and surprise Reagan Mpande.
Meanwhile, Joel Mutakubwa and Nicholas Mwere from BUL, NEC’s Gideon Odong, and Kitara’s Jude Ssemugabi complete the list of represented clubs.
The Uganda Cranes final CHAN Squad
Goalkeepers: Denis Kiggundu (Vipers), Crispus Kusiima (Kitara) & Joel Mutakubwa (BUL)
Defenders: Lazaro Bwambale (KCCA), Gavin Mugweri Kizito (KCCA), Herbert Achai (KCCA), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers), Rogers Torach (Vipers), Gideon Odong (NEC), Arnold Odong (SC Villa), Nicholas Mwere (BUL)
Midfielders: Allan Okello (Vipers), Karim Watambala (Vipers), Marvin Youngman (Vipers), Enock Ssebagala (Vipers), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa), Elvis Ngonde (SC Villa)
Forwards: Ivan Ahimbisibwe (KCCA), Emmanuel Anyama (KCCA), Usama Arafat (KCCA), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara), Sentamu Yunus Junior (Vipers)