mtnfootball.com
Uganda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has explained that striker Geoffrey Massa has been dropped for the Senegal game because of unfitness.
The Cranes face Senegal on Saturday in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier in the neutral ground of Marrakech, Morocco.
“I know Massa has the potential, but he has been very unfit. He has not even created a goal since he last scored against Zambia last year. He was very unfit in the friendly against Egypt last month in El Gouna,” the coach told MTNFootball.com on the phone from Turkey.
The Cranes team arrived in Istanbul yesterday for a four-day camp. Micho explained that he had given Massa a chance to come and prove himself in the international friendly against Botswana last weekend, but the player did not show-up.
“I even spoke to his new coach Steve [Barker] at University of Pretoria in South Africa who told me they are still working out issues to do with the player’s resident permit, but admitted that Massa needs some time to regain fitness,” said Micho.
The coach said Massa will have a chance to play for the Cranes again when he is fit because the match against The Teranga Lions needs players who will be very fit.
The former Yenicam FC striker in Cyprus told one of the media outlets in Uganda last weekend that he was disappointed that the coach had omitted him from the squad going to face Senegal.
Micho told MTNFootball.com that St George striker Robert Ssentongo had replaced Massa in the team, while professionals Mike Azira, Martin Mutumba and William Luwagga Kizito had arrived in Turkey.
Skipper Andy Mwesigwa and Tony Mawejje, who scored a goal each in the Cranes’ wins over Liberia and Angola in the earlier matches of the qualifiers, are expected today.
Full team expected in Turkey:
Dennis Onyango, Robert Odongkara, Hamza Muwonge, Dennis Iguma, Geoffery Walusimbi, Savio Kabugo, Ricahrd Kasagga, Hassan Wasswa, Vincent Kayizzi, Moses Oloya, Geoffery Kizito, Nicholas Wadada, Emmanuel Okwi, Frank Kalanda, Hamis Kiiza, Brian Majwega, Jospeh Ochaya, Andy Mwesigwa, Isaac Isinde, Henry Kalungi, Mike Azira, Tonny Mawejje, William Luwagga Kizito and Martin Mutumba.