Amavubi Stars to test Cranes

By Norman Katende and Swalley Kenyi 

International friendly 

November 15

Uganda v Rwanda (Namboole)

Charges 

Open sh10000 

Pavilion sh20000 

UGANDA will play against Rwanda in a build up to the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup that is due to start November 27 in Kenya. FUFA has also hinted on changing the Cranes home kit colour from yellow to red. 

The friendly against Rwanda will have Cranes fielding mostly locally based players as the team prepares for the Africa Nations Championship due January next year in South Africa. The game will be the first meeting for coach Micho Sredojevic against his former employers, the Amavubi Stars. 

The match could also bring back Rwanda’s Ugandan-born striker Meddy Kagere to Namboole for the first time since acquiring Rwandan nationality in 2011. 

FUFA spokesperson Rogers Mulindwa yesterday explained that the friendly had already been confirmed and it will be officiated by Kenyan referees. 

“We have already written to Kenya for the three referees but they are yet to reply. The match will start at 6pm since Friday is a working day. We want the people to have enough time to travel from office to the stadium,” said Mulindwa. 

Rwanda had requested for this friendly to be played last month but FUFA did not approve the timing for logistical problems. 

In a related development, FUFA vice president (Super League) Mujib Kasule has not ruled out the fact that the Cranes home jersey could be changed to red as it was observed during the unveiling of their partnership with Airtel. 

“One thing people should note is that we have been using three colours for the national team and it was not because of MTN that we were using yellow. However, we will sit down with the sponsors and since red is one of the national team colours, we will still be within the limits if we change at all,” said Kasule. 

The Cranes will resume training for the CECAFA championship over the weekend, though Mulindwa said that the technical committee is not ruling out a request by the organisers to have some of the Kenyan based players on the team. 

“We are aware of that but at the end of the day, it will be the technical committee