Coach Nkata's dilemma: Who to play?

By Swalley Kenyi

Africa Youth championship, Saturday 28 at Nakivubo
Uganda v Ghana

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Hippos coach Paul Nkata will have to painfully size down his squad from 25 to 18 players.

The U-20 national soccer team tactician has conceded he is having a headache in choosing midfielders to orchestrate his attacking approach for the 2013 Africa Youth Championship qualifier against Ghana Black Satellites.

While frontmen Julius Ogwang, Erisa Sekisambu, William Wadri and George Abege are assured of their slots on the team, it is not the case for the midfielders.

“The boys are ready to go. Even those who were doubtful are fi t now but the competition is really stiff in the midfield.

Everybody is too good to be dropped,” Nkata said yesterday. Vietnam-based Geoffrey Kizito, Gift Ali, Khalid Aucho, Alex Tuliraba and Hashim Ssempala are full of promise and have done their best in training.

The Black Satellites are expected to jet in this morning before having a feel of the Nakivubo turf later in the day.

Originally scheduled to fly in Wednesday, the Ghanaians’ arrival was delayed due to a flight change and the death of their President John Atta Mills.

The winner over the two legs advances to play the victor between Morocco and Gambia in the second round of the qualifiers in September and October.

The winner will then make it to the 19th edition of the Africa Youth Championship in Algeria next year. All the four semi-finalists in the competition in Algeria will also qualify for the prestigious 2013 U-20 FIFA World Cup.