Cranes out to silence critics - Iguma

By Swalley Kenyi

Africa Nations Championships

January 12
Uganda v Burkina Faso

January 16
Zimbabwe v Uganda

January 20
Morocco v Uganda

UGANDA Cranes CHAN team captain Dennis Iguma has said that Uganda Cranes will be in South Africa to disprove their critics when they take part in the tournament.

The Uganda Cranes are in pool B which head coach Micho Sredojevic has described as the Group of Death with Burkina Faso, Morocco and Zimbabwe.

The team is expected to be flagged off by official sponsors telecommunications company Airtel at a dinner at Serena Hotel on Tuesday.

Uganda will play its first match of the championships against Burkina Faso at Athlone Stadium on January 12.   

Iguma is optimistic Uganda can make it to the semi-finals of the biannual competition for home based football players.

“Football is dynamic and once we work together as a team we shall win games and surprise many. I believe the squad is good enough to compete and even go up to quarter or semi-finals. We believe in ourselves,” Iguma said.

“I know many players are looking at individual performance to get new elite clubs out there but I have told them to prioritize the country first,” he added.

It will be the Cranes second successive appearance at the championship. In the first edition of the competition in Khartoum in 2012, Uganda degradingly fell out in the preliminary round.

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Ochan (SCVU), Ismail Watenga (SC Vipers), Ali Kimera (SCVU)

Defenders: Ronnie Kiseka (KCCA), Denis Iguma (SCVU), Martin Mpuga (SCVU), Richard Kasaga (Kira Young), Isaac Muleme (SCVU), Savio Kabugo (SCVU), Nicholas Wadada (SC Vipers) Julius Ntambi (Kira Young)

Midfielders: Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Allan Kyambade (Express), Vincent Kayizi (SC Vipers), Yasser Mugerwa (SC VU), Brian Majwega (KCCA), Ivan Ntege (KCCA), Joseph Mpande (SC Vipers), Hassan Waswa (KCCA)

Forwards: Crespo Asiku (Bul FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Simon Okwi (SCVU), Yunus Sentamu (SC Vipers).