Ashiraf Kyeswa wants to sharpen his positioning as Uganda’s U-15 national football team, the Rhinos, prepares for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 22 to 31.
The Kampala Junior Team Soccer Academy left-back says the lessons learnt in camp are already helping him understand the game better, particularly when moving forward with the ball.
“What I have learnt is that football moves at a very high speed. They have taught us a lot of things, including keeping the ball and passing it while going forward, and we promise to represent our team well,” Kyeswa said.
“What I am fighting to improve on is learning positioning while going forward.”
Kyeswa is among the young players hoping to make the most of the opportunity to represent Uganda on the international stage.
The Rhinos entered residential camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru on October 1, with head coach Anthony Bongole and his technical team working to prepare the side for the tournament.
Midfielder Frank Baluku is equally excited about the opportunity, describing representing Uganda at such a stage as a dream many young footballers share.
“I am very pleased and excited to represent my country at the festival. Many kids dream of representing their countries on such a stage, but I have a chance,” Baluku said.
He called on Ugandan fans to trust the young team and support them as they prepare to take on international opposition.
“To the fans, we need your support, and you need to trust us to produce good things. With the mentality, hard work and coordination in the camp, you can really see a team,” he added.
The tournament will give the young Ugandans a chance to test themselves against players from different football backgrounds while gaining valuable international experience.
Uganda will face the Kyrgyz Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Cabo Verde, Ecuador and Tonga in the qualification stage. The Rhinos are scheduled to open their campaign against the Kyrgyz Republic on October 24 before taking on Equatorial Guinea and Cabo Verde on October 25.
They will face Ecuador on October 26, with Tonga also on their qualification-stage fixture list.
Unlike conventional youth World Cups, the festival guarantees participating teams several matches. The competition begins with a round-robin stage, after which results determine the classification tier in which each team continues playing. Tier A will determine the overall champions.
Matches will be played in an eight-a-side format, with two 20-minute halves. The Hovsan Competition Complex will host most of the games, while Crystal Hall is also among the venues in Baku.
The inaugural event is expected to bring together thousands of participants representing FIFA Member Associations from around the world.
The host nation, Azerbaijan, will be joined by teams from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean and Oceania. Among the countries expected to feature are India, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Andorra, Northern Ireland, Wales, Estonia, France, Kosovo, the Bahamas, Haiti, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago. Guam and representatives from Pacific island associations will also be part of the global gathering.
Uganda’s preparations began with a provisional squad of 26 players comprising four goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards drawn from schools, academies and clubs.
Currently, the team is in Azerbaijan, with a total of 14 players selected from a squad of 26 to represent Uganda at the international event.
The selected players are Swalleh Maganda (Prosper SA), Sudaisi Kimuli (El Cambio SA), Ashiraf Kyeswa (Jinja S.S), Patson Muhimbo (Prosper SA), Victor Bonny Ogwang (Prosper SA), Najib Zizinga (Isra SA), Frank Baluku(El Cambio SA), Jonah Muwanguzi (Msingi SA), Ian Wafula (El Cambio SA), Ethan Tendo Bakiika Ssaazi (Proline SA), Angello Kasumba (El Cambio SA), Ivan Kiganda (Rays of Grace), Mathias Muwonge(Prosper SA) and Jefferson Kwikiriza (El Cambio SA).
On the technical side, Bongole is assisted by Alamazan Kagawa, with Baker Lukooya serving as team manager, Uthman Nayenga as team doctor, George William Muliika as media officer, and Dan Obote as the Leader of the delegation.