Csaba eyes young players for Challenge

LASZLO Csaba plans to rely on youngsters to make Uganda’s squad in the build-up for the CECAFA Challenge Cup.

By Fred Kaweesi

LASZLO Csaba plans to rely on youngsters to make Uganda’s squad in the build-up for the CECAFA Challenge Cup.
The German, who will guide his 25 selected charges in daily training sessions starting Monday, said: “My plan was to have several U-23 and U-20 players in the team for the tournament. It will give each a chance to perform.”
Csaba will also utilise the 30th edition of the championship in Ethiopia to assess the abilities of reserve Cranes players. These are players who have not had the chance of breaking through to the senior side in Uganda’s last two African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Csaba will particularly look out to Vietnam-based midfielder Isaac Mulyanga and Alimansi Kadogo, who turns out for Rwanda side APR FC.
“Mulyanga and Alimansi will definitely get a chance. They will help strengthen a team that will have the likes of (Anthony) Bongole, (Richard) Malinga and Noah (Kasule),” Csaba added.
Uganda has lifted the regional championship nine times but will certainly face stiff resistance from defending champions and hosts Ethiopia.
The annual tournament sponsored by tycoon Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi kicks off on November 18, with the final on December 2 in Addis Ababa.
Al Amoudi has injected US$500,000 (sh900m) into the event to cater for the prize money, players’ allowances, air travel tickets, feeding and accommodation for all the teams.
The total prize money is US$70,000(sh126m) that will be shared amongst the top four finishers. The winner will claim US$30,000 (sh55m) with US$20,000 (sh37m), US$15,000 (sh28m) and US$5,000 (sh9m) on table for the second, third and fourth finishers.
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