Kobs take on Rwanda

When Farouk Miya leads Kobs against Rwanda in the Under-23 African Championship/Olympic Qualifiers this afternoon, one thing will be on his mind: to conjure up Uganda’s first victory over the hosts at Amahoro Stadium .
No Ugandan team (senior of junior) has ever beaten Rwanda at Amahoro.
“Games between Uganda and Rwanda are derbies no team wants to lose, so we expect this game to be really tense,” said Uganda’s head coach, Micho Sredojevic.
“We are going into the game knowing that records don’t favour us when Rwanda is in the picture, but we want to break that jinx of not winning away and in Rwanda particularly,” Micho added.

Micho believes Kobs can get goals from anywhere but composure and confidence in front of goal will be key. “I am dealing with players who are gifted with so many technical abilities. We can get goals from anywhere. We just need to believe in ourselves once we get in the final third.

“Rwanda also has very many talented players, I spent a lot of time with them and it’s a country I know very well. They will come wanting to win in front of their passionate fans,” he added.
Micho’s counterpart, Johnny McKinstry, will be relying on strikers Isaie Songa and Danny Usengimana for goals but attacking midfielders Andrew Buteera, Kevin Muhire and Bienvenue Mugenzi have equally been impressive in training.

Past engagements in Rwanda
Afcon qualifiers (1998): Rwanda 0-0 Uganda
Afcon qualifiers (2003): Rwanda 0-0 Uganda
Friendly (2013): Rwanda 2-2 Uganda
U-17 Youth Qualifiers (2014): Rwanda 2-3 Uganda

PROBABLE STARTING KOBS XI
Jamal Salim, Shafiq Bakaki, Brian Ochwo, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Sadat Kyambadde, Keziron Kizito, Farouk Miya (captain), Tom Masiko, Elisa Ssekisambu, John Ssemazi, Umar Kasumba
Substitutes: James Alitho, Deus Bukenya, Timothy Awanyi, Derrick Tekkwo, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Martin Kiiza, Fahad Muhamad Hassan.

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