Cranes taking no chances
Cranes arrive in Maseru today confident of settling in well because team coordinator Muyinda (inset right) has already taken care of business. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
KAMPALA- There is no time for further ado for the Uganda Cranes as another assignment in a space of just four days is upon us already.
No sooner had last evening’s first leg of the 2019 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Lesotho ended than the Cranes went airborne.
This was thanks to government’s offer of a chartered flight, which was announced by President Museveni when he hosted the team to dinner on Independence Day.
But even before the team left for Maseru, Lesotho; Fufa had already dispatched an advance party led by Cranes coordinator Crispus Muyinda on Thursday night.
Cranes coach Sebastien Desabre’s plan, as he said in the run-up to this back-to-back fixture against the Crocodiles, was to try qualify by the end of Tuesday.
But just how tough is it for players to soak in two matches in four days, all of which involving flying miles of distance?
“It’s tough of course,” admitted Cranes captain Denis Onyango, “At times the mind wants but the body is not willing.
“But as professional footballers, we are always ready to play at any time.
“The boys have to know. They know. The good thing is we have enough numbers to take care of the two games.”
Onyango’s coach; Desabre, said such tough tasks require the highest degree of “discipline in camp, full focus every time, every session and every day.
“The Chartered flight and motivation from the President also gave gave us a good feeling . My part is to understand the boys needs during the camp.”
The Cranes will host Cape Verde next month before wrapping up the campaign away to Tanzania next March. Uganda are working to finish in the top two teams of Group L, which includes Tanzania, Lesotho and Cape Verde, to make a second successive Afcon finals.
Cranes final 24-man squad
Denis Onyango, Nicholas Wadada, Timothy Awany, Hassan Wasswa, Godfrey Walusimbi, Denis Iguma, Joseph Ochaya, Moses Waiswa, Faruku Miya, Emma Okwi, Patrick Kaddu
Jamal Salim, Charles Lukwago, Murushid Juuko, Isaac Isinde, Isaac Muleme, Ibrahim Sadaam, Taddeo Lwanga, Allan Kateregga, Khalid Aucho, Edris Lubega, Derrick Nsibambi, Milton Karisa, Allan Kyambadde
NATIONS CUP QUALIIFIERS FIXTURES
October 16
Lesotho vs. Uganda
November 16:
Uganda vs. Cape Verde
March 22, 2019:
Tanzania vs. Uganda
