Sadam and Bongole dropped from team

Jun 03, 2010

EXPERIENCED players will tell you that guaranteeing a place in a national side more often than not hinges on form and mentality. There is a restricted extent to which sloppiness can be afforded and Juma Sadam has had to pay a heavy price for that.

By Fred Kaweesi

Sunday, 4pm
Africa Championship
Kenya v Uganda


EXPERIENCED players will tell you that guaranteeing a place in a national side more often than not hinges on form and mentality.

There is a restricted extent to which sloppiness can be afforded and Juma Sadam has had to pay a heavy price for that.

The Bunamwaya star and Anthony Bongole were the most prominent exclusions from the 19-man Cranes team that makes the trip to Nairobi today hoping to complete a mission that could seal qualification to the Africa Nations Championship.

Cranes coach Bobby Williamson was not impressed by the two first team players’ substandard displays in the 1-0 win over Kenya two weeks ago and not in training either.

“They have not been up to the required standard but the team that will travel will be good enough to get us the result we need,” Williamson stated.

The Scot particularly appreciates Sadam’s abilities but was not prepared to take a player for whom the mentality needed to stay at the top looks to have become too difficult a line to tread.

His replacement Mike Sserumaga has since impressed in training and was included to add creativity to the team.

Williamson however hopes that his faith in the fitness of team captain Simeon Masaba is not a misplaced gamble.

Masaba ruptured a thigh muscle in training but has been included in the largely youthful side for the experience he brings into the side.

In the event that Masaba fails his fitness test on Saturday morning, Andy Ssali has been considered as a backup. Cranes need just a draw or win to guarantee qualification.

Team to Nairobi:

R. Odongkara, H. Muwonge, S. Masaba, A. Ssali, G. Walusimbi, I. Isinde, J. Mukubya, M. Mudde, R. Kimuli, O. Kasule, N. Ssemakula, M. Kaweesa, D. Walulya, T. Odur, S. Matovu, M. Sserumaga, P. Ssenyonjo, H. Kisekka, C. Okhuti

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});