By Robert Kayindi James
Uganda national team head coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has summoned a 32-man squad for the two upcoming international ties for the Cranes against Kenya and Comoros.
The squad is composed of 16 local based players and the other half coming from overseas. Among the surprise players summoned to the squad is Yoevil Town (UK) defender, Bevis Mugabi who recently joined from Premier League side Southampton while St. George’s custodian Robert Odongkara has been the unexpected omission from the team.
Uganda Cranes will take on the Harambe Stars of Kenya in an international build up match on 30th August in preparation for their make or break clash against Group D opponents of Comoros in the final game of the 2017 Africa Nations Cup Qualifiers. Only a victory for the Cranes against Comoros can break their 38-year old jinx of not qualifying for the continental tournament whose finals are scheduled to be in Gabon.
The team is expected to start nonresidential training on Thursday 25th.
Cranes provisional squad;
Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Salim Jamal Magoola (El Merriekh, Sudan), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA, Uganda), Ismail Watenga (Vipers, Uganda)
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada (Vipers, Uganda), Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa, Uganda), Bevis Mugabi (Yoevil Town, UK), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda , Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Timothy Denis Awanyi (KCCA, Uganda), Rashid Toha (Onduparaka, Uganda), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Joseph Benson Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda), Godfrey ‘Jajja Walu’ Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho, Tonny Mawejje (Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur, Iceland), Geofrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Moses Oloya (Kuban Kransndor, Russia), Kezironi Kizito (Vipers, Uganda), Ivan Ntege (KCCA, Uganda), William Luwagga Kizito (Feirense, Portugal), Vincent Kayizzi Walugembe (KCCA, Uganda), Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu (Sports Club Villa Jogoo, Uganda)
Strikers: Geofrey Massa (Baroka, South Africa), Farouk Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Yunus Sentamu (F.C Ilves, Finland), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Geoffrey Sserunkuma (KCCA, Uganda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (Onduparaka, Uganda), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers, Uganda)