Cranes race for fitness ahead of Zambia clash

By Fred Kaweesi

Under the sweltering temperatures at Namboole Stadium, the Cranes embarked on a rigorous training regime geared towards maximizing fitness levels ahead of next weekend’s potential qualifier against Zambia.

Contrary to the build-up for the World Cup qualifier against Angola in June, where fitness was such a major concern, Cranes coach Bobby Williamson seemed pleased that this time a majority of the squad have had serious match practice with either their respective clubs or with the Cranes in Botswana.

On Friday, the Scot was in position to look at 14 players, who took part in a session that looked at fitness, dribbling and movement within restricted areas.

That said, Williamson’s primary concern will be designing a strategy that will make up for the absence of injured strikers Geoffrey Massa and Brian Umony.

He will however be in position to fully experiment and decide on the right options after striker Hamis Diego Kiiza arrives in the country today to join the team’s other two out-and-out strikers Robert Ssentongo and Emmanuel Okwi.

In the event that Mike Sserumagga is considered a support forward, Ssentongo and Kiiza will have to work extremely hard to justify reason of starting ahead of favourite Okwi.

In the absence of Massa and Umony during Cranes’ trip to Angola in June, Okwi led the team’s attack successfully, scoring the all-important goal that earned Uganda a priceless 1-1 draw against the Palancas Negros