URA ordeal in Nairobi
URA FC arrived to a hostile reception in Nairobi where they were booked in lowly city suburb hotel. Kenya’s World Hope FC who host URA in the Confederation’s Cup on Sunday booked the Ugandans in The Bounty Hotel in Nairobi’s South B estate, 10km from the city centre.<br>
By Reuben Olita
and Fred kaweesi
URA FC arrived to a hostile reception in Nairobi where they were booked in lowly city suburb hotel. Kenya’s World Hope FC who host URA in the Confederation’s Cup on Sunday booked the Ugandans in The Bounty Hotel in Nairobi’s South B estate, 10km from the city centre.
The Uganda Revenue Authority team arrived in Nairobi, Thursday morning after 13 hours – a laborious road journey with 18 players and six officials but without seasoned defender Phillip Obwiny, who was left behind due to what secretary Nixon Twebaze termed as “technical reasons.â€
Twebaze said the hotel did not meet international standards, but they had no option, but abide by what the hosts had offered.
“We expected to be accommodated at either Six-eighty, The Stanley or Hilton but were shocked to be driven to an estate hotel," he said.
He said World Hope would be accommodated in one of the eight hotels that a CAF official certified recently and wondered whether the same official visited Kenya for the same purpose.
A CAF official was recently in Uganda to approve hotels and stadia where visiting sides would be accommodated. CAF stresses that hotels should be at least three star level.
Team manager Hajji Ssesanga Magala said they were also dismayed with the training ground - Hope Centre in the sprawling Kawangware slums – that he described as “very bad for football training.â€
Hope official Charles Macharia said the facilities on offer to URA were the best they could afford in view of their financial position.
“We only managed to meet some downpayment with the balance to be raised from gate charges,†he said.
Commenting on Obwiny, Twebaze said the veteran defender would certainly be considered for the return leg in Kampala if he passed a fitness test.
Twebaze expressed optimism that either David Kyobe or Sula Walusimbi would pass fitness test to replace Obwiny in defence.
URA had their first training session in Nairobi yesterday afternoon with coach Deo Serwadda taking the boys through a light workout after lunch and a rest.
Meanwhile, Police lead striker Martin Muwanga has warned Sudan’s El Hilal goal keeper Al Moez to expect a ‘very busy’ Saturday afternoon when the two sides face-off in their MTN CAF Champions league first leg fixture.
Moez, also custodian of Sudan’s national team, was part of the 25-man contingent that was expected to jet into the country yesterday night.
“I do not see El Hilal being a problem for us. They are a physically weak side that we will beat. We will get as many goals possible at Namboole stadium to take a good advantage to Sudan,†Muwanga said.
Muwanga’s combination with pre-season signing Dan Walusimbi has eased fears that Police would struggle following star striker Geoffrey Massa’s transfer to Egyptian club El Masry in January.
The two strikers, with five goals between them in the super league this season, are among the scoring options coach Asuman Lubowa’s side will look to.
and Fred kaweesi
URA FC arrived to a hostile reception in Nairobi where they were booked in lowly city suburb hotel. Kenya’s World Hope FC who host URA in the Confederation’s Cup on Sunday booked the Ugandans in The Bounty Hotel in Nairobi’s South B estate, 10km from the city centre.
The Uganda Revenue Authority team arrived in Nairobi, Thursday morning after 13 hours – a laborious road journey with 18 players and six officials but without seasoned defender Phillip Obwiny, who was left behind due to what secretary Nixon Twebaze termed as “technical reasons.â€
Twebaze said the hotel did not meet international standards, but they had no option, but abide by what the hosts had offered.
“We expected to be accommodated at either Six-eighty, The Stanley or Hilton but were shocked to be driven to an estate hotel," he said.
He said World Hope would be accommodated in one of the eight hotels that a CAF official certified recently and wondered whether the same official visited Kenya for the same purpose.
A CAF official was recently in Uganda to approve hotels and stadia where visiting sides would be accommodated. CAF stresses that hotels should be at least three star level.
Team manager Hajji Ssesanga Magala said they were also dismayed with the training ground - Hope Centre in the sprawling Kawangware slums – that he described as “very bad for football training.â€
Hope official Charles Macharia said the facilities on offer to URA were the best they could afford in view of their financial position.
“We only managed to meet some downpayment with the balance to be raised from gate charges,†he said.
Commenting on Obwiny, Twebaze said the veteran defender would certainly be considered for the return leg in Kampala if he passed a fitness test.
Twebaze expressed optimism that either David Kyobe or Sula Walusimbi would pass fitness test to replace Obwiny in defence.
URA had their first training session in Nairobi yesterday afternoon with coach Deo Serwadda taking the boys through a light workout after lunch and a rest.
Meanwhile, Police lead striker Martin Muwanga has warned Sudan’s El Hilal goal keeper Al Moez to expect a ‘very busy’ Saturday afternoon when the two sides face-off in their MTN CAF Champions league first leg fixture.
Moez, also custodian of Sudan’s national team, was part of the 25-man contingent that was expected to jet into the country yesterday night.
“I do not see El Hilal being a problem for us. They are a physically weak side that we will beat. We will get as many goals possible at Namboole stadium to take a good advantage to Sudan,†Muwanga said.
Muwanga’s combination with pre-season signing Dan Walusimbi has eased fears that Police would struggle following star striker Geoffrey Massa’s transfer to Egyptian club El Masry in January.
The two strikers, with five goals between them in the super league this season, are among the scoring options coach Asuman Lubowa’s side will look to.