Defenders wary of lethal Sserunkuuma

By Reuben Olita in Nairobi

CECAFA fixtures
Wednesday, All games on SS9
Zanzibar v S.Sudan 1.30pm
Kenya v Ethiopia 4pm

28 November 2013
Burundi v Somalia 1.30pm
Tanzania v Zambia 3.55pm

29 November 2013
Sudan v Eritrea 1.30pm
Uganda v Rwanda 3.55pm

30 November 2013
Ethiopia v Zanzibar 1.30pm

UGANDA’S Senior Challenge Cup title defence could be decided by Kenya-based striker Dan Sserunkuma.

The Cranes team arrived in Kenya’s capital Nairobi yesterday ready for the regional showcase that starts on Wednesday.

Among the 23-man team accommodated at Mulele Hotel in Machakos, 61km from Nairobi town, is Sserunkuuma, who just recently inspired Gor Mahia to the Kenya Premier League (KPL) title.

The Ugandan forward is not only the most in-form striker in Kenya todate, he is also so familiar with Kenyan stadia that Cranes should feel privileged ahead of their opening fixture against Rwanda on Friday.

Since 2010 when he joined City Stars before crossing to Gor Mahia last season, Sserunkuuma has developed into an efficient forward.

In his first season with Gor Mahia, he was voted KPL Player of the Year after emerging top scorer with 12 goals.

In the 2013 KPL season, Sserunkuma, 22, guided Gor Mahia to their first league victory in 18 years and is determined to replicate the same form for his country in the next two weeks.

The Ugandan diminutive striker has been described by Kenyan defenders as “lethal and difficult to mark and a penalty creator” owing to his runs and precise finish when he confronts any defence.

Uganda was the fifth team to touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport yesterday.

Former African champions Zambia who are the guest team arrived in the morning while South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia jetted in earlier on Sunday.

Cranes are in Group C and will play their preliminary round matches in the sunny town of Machakos which is 64km south east of Nairobi along the Nairobi-Mombasa road.

Uganda will next face Eritrea before completing their preliminary matches against Sudan on December 5.