McKinstry readies for Senior Challenge Cup debut

Dec 03, 2019

This will be the first CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup to be hosted by Uganda since 2012

FOOTBALL

Uganda Cranes coach Johnathan McKinstry will expect a much-improved team as his side continues to gel ahead of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

The close to two weeks competition will run from December 7-19 at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru and the Kyabazinga Stadium, Bugembe in Jinja.

Mckinstry feels the 2-0 victory over Jinja based Gaddafi FC in a practice match played at the Kyabazinga Stadium in Jinja was a good build-up and has given him the confidence that his side will live up to their expectation in the tournament.

"It was another step in terms of our preparations. This was another part of our training program. Gaddafi was really up for the game and used a lot of energy that put us under pressure. The boys did well and everyone got some minutes of play," McKinstry said.

He added," It has helped me learn a few things on our players and I was pleased with the performance though we need to work on some other things that didn't go well and it's all good in terms of continuing our preparations for CECAFA," he added

Uganda is in Group A alongside Burundi, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. But some reports indicated that Ethiopia had pulled out but FUFA is yet to confirm.

DR Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia in sin Group B while Group C is comprised of  Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti, and Zanzibar.

This will be the first CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup to be hosted by Uganda since 2012 which they eventually won.

Kenya is the defending champions of this championship having edged Zanzibar in the last edition they hosted in 2017.

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