Onyango backs Uganda Cranes

By K.Muwanga in Cape Town

Denis Onyango believes the Cranes can progress to the next round of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) only if they keep the same spirit and momentum exhibited during the game against Burkina Faso last Sunday.

The Cranes goalkeeper, who turns out for South Africa club Bidvest Wits, called Cranes custodian for the CHAN tournament Benjamin Ochan and also offered him tips ahead of the game against Zimbabwe.

Right-back Nicholas Wadada has fully recovered from the injury he suffered during a boda boda accident last month. He will however have to compete with Julius Ntambi who impressed in the first game.

Defender Richard Kassaga believes that the game against Zimbabwe will be decisive on the team’s progress during the tournament.

“We are going to handle every game as a final and expect more than what you saw against Burkina Faso. “We want to qualify before the last game,” he said.

If the Cranes progress to the quarter-finals, they will be guaranteed prize money. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the winners of the 2014 Africa Nations Championship tournament will walk home with $800,000.

CAF second Vice President Almamy Kabele Camara told a media briefing in Cape Town that: “We have already set the prize cash and all participating teams will get something.

However, that will depend on the revenue collected during the tournament that started on January 11 and climaxes on February 1.”