Cranes friendly in Egypt to go ahead amid violent protests in Cairo

By Pius Arinawe

International friendly  

Egypt v Uganda (5.30pm)

UGANDA Cranes' international friendly against Egypt will go ahead as planned despite the North African country being plunged into further unrest following mass protests that have so far claimed at least 30 lives including university students.

There was no official confirmation of the deaths at Rabaa al-Adawiya, in northeast Cairo, where police opened fire on a camp housing thousands of supporters demanding the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Mursi.

The violence which began at around 7 a.m., came after international efforts failed to mediate an end to a six-week political standoff between Mursi's supporters and the army-backed government which took power after his ouster on July 3. 

Two members of the Egyptian security forces were also reportedly shot dead as they tried to disperse the irate protesters.

FUFA spokesperson Rogers Mulindwa said he was not aware of the severity of the situation in Egypt but expected the tie to go ahead nonetheless.

“As far as we know the game will go on as planned. The riots are in a different part of the country and we haven’t gotten any indication by our hosts that the match won’t be played” Mulindwa stated.

Egypt has been convulsed by political and economic turmoil since the 2011 uprising that ended 30 years of rule by U.S.-backed President Hosni Mubarak, and the country is now more polarised than any time for many years.

Wednesday’s violence is reported to have spread to other major cities of Alexandria, Asyut and Mina.

The match is due to be played in the Red Sea coastal town of El Gouna, 430 KM from Cairo, the epicentre of the violence. The team has pitched camp at the Sheraton Miramar Resort Hotel.

Coach Micho Srejodevic has a full squad to work with after several Europe-based players including captain Andy Mwesigwa, Martin Kayongo Mutumba and Tonny Mawejje all joined up with the team.

Micho is using the friendly to tune the team ahead of the crucial 2014 World Cup Qualifier against Group J leaders Senegal in Morocco which will decide who advances to the 2nd qualifying round.

Was due to play Iraq in an international friendly in Erbil City, 325km north of the capital Baghdad in July but it was called off after world football governing body FIFA banned Iraq from hosting matches because of insecurity.