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Hippos aim for advantage against Cameroon ‘Cubs’
Hippos celebrating one of their five goals against South Sudan in the last round at Lugogo. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
- Soccer. Coach Lule will bank on captain Poloto alongside clubmates Okello and Kizza were crucial as the Hippos recorded an 8-1 aggregate thumping of South Sudan in the last round.
KAMPALA.
National Under-20 captain Julius Poloto noted the swiftness of his teammates in training upon joining up with the Hippos squad ahead of today’s first leg of the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations second round qualifiers.
“They are doing every task with speed which is key in football,” said the KCCA player after completing his first training session on Wednesday at the Njeru Technical Centre where the team has been camping.
That speed will be essential this evening at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo if the Hippos are to breakdown the more physical Cameroonians. The Indomitable ‘Cubs’ jetted into the country on Thursday and will also be pushing for a favourable first leg result.
Poloto alongside clubmates Allan Okello and Mustafa Kizza were crucial as the Hippos recorded an 8-1 aggregate thumping of South Sudan in the previous round.
Both Okello and Kizza were on the scoresheet in the 5-1 home result with the former also setting up two goals while the versatile Poloto chipped in with an assist.
“We just have to score goals, “Hippos coach Mathias Lule stressed this week. He will be buoyed by the performances over two legs of striker Steven Mukwala, who leads the scoring charts, with three goals after scoring home and away.
New kid on the block
Lule has also called up attacking midifelder Bashir Kagiri, who plays for French side AS Beziers, in a position where he also boasts Vipers’ Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye.
The Cameroonians are, meanwhile, playing their first match of the qualifiers after getting a bye in the first round owing to their past record in the youth tournament including a winners medal in 1995 and four second-place finishes.
The winner of the Uganda - Cameroon tie, whose second leg is in a week’s time, qualifies for the third and final qualification round in July where any of Mali, Tanzania or DR Congo awaits.
The seven winners of the third round will qualify for the final tournament to be hosted in Niger.
Africa U20 Cup of Nations
Today at StarTimes Stadium
Uganda vs. Cameroon, 4pm
(Second Round Qualifier - First Leg)
