Midfielder Azira hopes Montreal move can reignite Cranes dream

KAMPALA. Nine games on, Uganda Cranes head coach Sebastien Desabre is still looking for that versatile player capable of giving the team balance.

Moses Opondo, Farouk Miya, Khalid Aucho, Allan Kateregga and Luwagga Kizito have all been given time to impress the 41-year-old Frenchman but he still looks less impressed. Former Colorado Rapids defender cum midfielder now at Montreal Impact Mike Azira (pictured above) is the other option Desabre can exploit.

Departed coach Micho Sredojevic had given the former Villa, Blue Raiders, Mobile Rams, Mississippi Brilla, Charleston Battery and Seattle Sounders player a chance but unfortunately he employed him out of position at the 2017 Afcon finals in Gabon.

The two had a spat that has since denied the 30 year old versatile midfielder a chance to represent Uganda never mind his talent being proven.

As Desabre aims at taking Cranes to Cameroon 2019 starting with next month’s clash with Tanzania at Namboole, he has not closed the door to the likes of Azira.

“I have a lot of information on most of Ugandan players after eight months working withvthe Uganda Cranes.
“At the moment I’m working with players I camped with in Central African Republic and Niger but I will continue giving everyone a chance,” said Desabre. The Frenchman said he went for inactive defender Murushid Jjuko over Yeovil defender Bevis Mugabi but promised to consider the rest of the foreign based players after the next two ‘must win’ home matches.