Cranes set for Burundi CAF encounter

Mar 11, 2010

THE Cranes will have to contend with an unfamiliar playing surface when they take on Burundi in the Africa Nations Championships encounter at Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura on Sunday.

By Swalley Kenyi
and James Bakama

THE Cranes will have to contend with an unfamiliar playing surface when they take on Burundi in the Africa Nations Championships encounter at Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura on Sunday. The team of 18 players and five officials leaves for Bujumbura today.

The championship first round tie will be on the astro-turf pitch which Uganda Cranes officials say troubles the players.
They fear the turf will continue to affect performance of many of their players some of whom have never played on it.

A technical staff, who did not want to be named, insisted yesterday that the Cranes ball work on the turf has continuously worried him.

“The way the players time a bouncing ball and the way they have always kicked it has showed that their previous experiences is not enough. We need to handle those worries in time,” the official said.

Save for Manco Kaweesa, Henry Kisekka and Derrick Walulya, who have no clue about the modified surface, the rest on the squad have played on the surface before.

The Cranes latest international friendly with Tanzania was played on such turf and Uganda won 3-2.

But head coach Bobby Williamson, who said that picking the squad was getting difficult because every player was doing his best, is optimistic his team will overcome Burundi before the return leg in two weeks time.
The CAF first leg first round match will be officiated by Tanzanian referee Waziri Sheba.

Three countries in this zone including the host Sudan will qualify for the finals in Khartoum next year.

If Uganda advances, the CECAFA champions will meet Kenya whose round one opponents Ethiopia pulled out of the championship. Eritrea also withdrew giving Rwanda a bye to the next stage.

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