Uganda Cranes fired up for CHAN

By Swalley Kenyi

Nations Championships Group B, Athlone Stadium

January 12
Uganda v Burkina Faso
January 16
Zimbabwe v Uganda
January 20
Morocco v Uganda

After listening to motivational speaker Peter Kimbowa during a farewell dinner at Serena Hotel on Tuesday night, Cranes promised to make the country proud at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) that starts this weekend.

During his speech in which he quoted various achievers around the world, Kimbowa urged the players to refl ect on the team’s performance in the past, bridge the necessary gaps before confronting the future.

“We are warriors. We may have had setbacks before but they were not crumbles. A setback is a setup for a comeback. Remember a season of mourning is not a lifetime misery. We need the right mentality, cohesion and team spirit to win even at the last minute,” Kimbowa told the 23 players selected for the assignment in South Africa.

The dinner was organised by Cranes’ main sponsors Airtel Uganda.

Team captain Denis Iguma stated that: “We are ready to go to South Africa and give our best. We shall make it. We shall not let you (Ugandans) down.” Micho, who had earlier on conceded that Morocco was the biggest challenge in Group B that also has Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe said, “We are seen as underdogs but we will show what we can do.”

“There is no soldier who doesn’t train to be a general. We are mentally prepared, physically fit and technically mature for the challenge in South Africa. I cannot discuss our approach with the public but with these players when the time comes,” Micho pointed.

Airtel Uganda managing director V.G Somasekhar announced a sh2m per goal reward at the CHAN finals for the Cranes to develop football infrastructure of their choice anywhere in the country.

Squad to South Africa Goalkeepers: Ochan Benjamin (SCVU), Watenga Ismail (Vipers), Oringa Franco (BUL FC), Brian Bwete (URA FC)

Defenders: Iguma Denis (SCVU), Martin Mpuga (SCVU), Richard Kasaga (Kira Young), Isaac Muleme (SCVU), Savio Kabugo (SCVU), Ismail Kazibwe (SC Viper), Ayub Kisalita (SC Villa), Simon Namwanja (Proline), Nicholas Wadada(KCCA)

Midfielders: Julius Ntambi (Kira Young), Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Allan Kyambade (Express), Oscar Agaba (URA), Vincent Kayizi (SC Vipers), Yasser Mugerwa (SCVU), Brian Majwega, Ivan Ntege and Tom Masiko (KCCA), Joseph Mpande (SC Vipers),

Strikers: Crespo Asiku (BUL FC), Francis Olaki (Soana), Umar Kasumba (Police FC), Simon Okwi (SCVU), Yunus Sentamu (SC Vipers).