COPA youth off to Nairobi

By Samson Opus

A group of players from the COPA Coca-Cola has been picked for an international friendly against Kenya this weekend.

The team of 20 Under-16s was selected during the two-week national secondary schools football championship that concluded in Kabale last Saturday.

The squad that departs for a tour of Kenya on Thursday was selected by a technical committee led by coaches Matia Lule and Robert Mukiibi. St. Julian High School and Standard High Zzana dominated the list with three players each while St. Mary’s SS Kitende, who retained the title for the seventh-year, has only one.

According to Coca-Cola promotions manager Kennedy Mutenyo, the selection was based entirely on the 15-16 year age limit.

“The team selection was based on skill and on age limit. Besides that we considered regional balance,” explained Mutenyo.

After the Kenyan tour, some of the players will travel for another high performance training centre at a later date, Mutenyo said.

The team has Umaru Babu, Sammuel Adobo, Christopher Tumukugize (St. Leo’s College Kyegobe), Shamil Mugezi (Metha SS), Paul Patrik Mboowa, Alex Koma and Francis Anguzu (St. Julian). Others are Joshua Kigozi (Nakaseke International) Steven Ayo (Gombe SS), Charles Ssali St. Mary’s SS Kitende), Godfrey Mbaziira (Kololo SS), Musa Kiiza, Ibrahim Kimera and Ronald Kayima (Standard High). Also in the list are Ashiraf Bamuturaki (Old Kampala SS), Derrick Nsibambi, Hassan Ssenyonjo, (Dynamic SS) Vincent Adriko and David Awori (Lubiri SS).