Watson Chosen to Lead Cranes
Mar 27, 2003
In-form Villa striker Alex Isabirye was a shock exclusion as The Cranes technical committee yesterday announced the 20-man squad destined for Rwanda.
By Joseph Opio
In-form Villa striker Alex Isabirye was a shock exclusion as The Cranes technical committee yesterday announced the 20-man squad destined for Rwanda.
Argentina-based defender Ibrahim Ssekajja was also ruled out for failure to show up.
The other dropped players, who include the URA trio of David Kiwanuka, Ibrahim Mugisha, Godfrey Ssali and Police’s threesome of Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Ausi Kaaya and David Iga, will make it to Rwanda but only as spectators.
“To compensate, the dropped players will leave by road to watch the game live,†disclosed FUFA general secretary, Haruna Mawanda.
Other exclusions are Jimmy Kidega (Express), Crispus Kasege (Kinyara), Noah Kasule (KCC) and Sam Mubiru (Masaka).
Isabirye, who had enjoyed an inspirational vein of scoring form at club level, was the most prominent on the list of dropped players.
The erstwhile SCOUL marksman was regarded as a very likely member of the Kigali-bound team due to his excellent club displays this season and favourable history against Amavubi.
Isabirye who played an instrumental part in Villa’s CECAFA Club Championship conquest, scored a brace against the Rwandese in the 2001 CECAFA quarter-final.
“Isabirye, good a striker as he is, was still suffering from the after effects of his early season injury,†a source within the Cranes camp cited the reason for Isabirye’s exclusion.
Former skipper Timothy Batabaire, out with an injury, will have his mantle assumed by Villa colleague Edgar Watson. Coach Paul Hasule punctuated the team with combative, defensive midfielders and included the recently recalled pair of Wasswa Bbosa and Peter Rwebuga. The closely contested goalkeeping role saw Ibrahim Mugisha dropped in preference to Posnet Omwony and Abdul Salim.
The team departs for Rwanda today morning via Nairobi aboard Kenya Airways.
The Squad: P. Omwony, A. Salim, G. Kateregga, S. Masaba, N. Kizito, P. Rwebuga, R. Tumusiime, S. Mubiru (Villa), E. Watson (capt.), M. Nsubuga, H. Kaweesa, W. Bbosa, P. Ssozi, E. Balyejusa, L. Mbabazi, H. Mubiru, Y. Kinene, S. Tenywa, F. Okello, A. Tabula.
In-form Villa striker Alex Isabirye was a shock exclusion as The Cranes technical committee yesterday announced the 20-man squad destined for Rwanda.
Argentina-based defender Ibrahim Ssekajja was also ruled out for failure to show up.
The other dropped players, who include the URA trio of David Kiwanuka, Ibrahim Mugisha, Godfrey Ssali and Police’s threesome of Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Ausi Kaaya and David Iga, will make it to Rwanda but only as spectators.
“To compensate, the dropped players will leave by road to watch the game live,†disclosed FUFA general secretary, Haruna Mawanda.
Other exclusions are Jimmy Kidega (Express), Crispus Kasege (Kinyara), Noah Kasule (KCC) and Sam Mubiru (Masaka).
Isabirye, who had enjoyed an inspirational vein of scoring form at club level, was the most prominent on the list of dropped players.
The erstwhile SCOUL marksman was regarded as a very likely member of the Kigali-bound team due to his excellent club displays this season and favourable history against Amavubi.
Isabirye who played an instrumental part in Villa’s CECAFA Club Championship conquest, scored a brace against the Rwandese in the 2001 CECAFA quarter-final.
“Isabirye, good a striker as he is, was still suffering from the after effects of his early season injury,†a source within the Cranes camp cited the reason for Isabirye’s exclusion.
Former skipper Timothy Batabaire, out with an injury, will have his mantle assumed by Villa colleague Edgar Watson. Coach Paul Hasule punctuated the team with combative, defensive midfielders and included the recently recalled pair of Wasswa Bbosa and Peter Rwebuga. The closely contested goalkeeping role saw Ibrahim Mugisha dropped in preference to Posnet Omwony and Abdul Salim.
The team departs for Rwanda today morning via Nairobi aboard Kenya Airways.
The Squad: P. Omwony, A. Salim, G. Kateregga, S. Masaba, N. Kizito, P. Rwebuga, R. Tumusiime, S. Mubiru (Villa), E. Watson (capt.), M. Nsubuga, H. Kaweesa, W. Bbosa, P. Ssozi, E. Balyejusa, L. Mbabazi, H. Mubiru, Y. Kinene, S. Tenywa, F. Okello, A. Tabula.