Sserunkuma a treasure - Micho

Sserunkuma dribbles during a friendly against Gabon as Cranes prepared for Chan that ended in Rwanda last month. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA

Kampala- Geoffrey Sserunkuma is a striker that should be treasured according to Uganda Cranes coach, Micho Sredejovic.

Now aged 32, Sserunkuma has, however, not had so many chances to prove his worth in national colours.

Despite his impressive goals return, previous Cranes coaches didn’t rate him that highly.
However, Serbian Micho recently ended Sserunkuma’s five-year national team exile by taking the striker to the African Nations Championship (Chan) that climaxed last month in Rwanda.

While there, the striker, who had last featured for Cranes on October 8, 2011, exhibited his poaching insticts after coming on to grab a consolation as Uganda drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe in their last group game.
That was Sserunkuma’s 17th goal in 27 Cranes appearances.

With the upcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers double header against Burkina Faso on March 26 and 29, Micho wants Sserunkuma to work his way into the Cranes team. “He (Sserunkuma) has a unique sense of scoring. He is a treasure and value for this country,” Micho told Daily Monitor on Wednesday.

With Brian Umony ruled out through injury, Micho will need back-up for skipper Geoffrey Massa and Sserunkuma knows he can pip the likes of Caesar Okuthi and Hamis Kiiza to that supporting role.

With five goals already to his name in the 2015/2016 Azam Uganda Premier League, Sserunkuma has been summoned to the 23-man squad leaving today for the Cranes Regional Tour in West Nile.

The tour is meant to prepare the team for the Burkina Faso duel and also rally fans to turn up in big numbers for the return leg at Namboole on March 29.

Sserunkuma’s discipline and abilities in front of goal are unquestionable but Micho wants to continue monitoring him on different platforms.

“He is a returnee to the national team after being away since 2011. He has shown us on international level that we can count on him and we want to continue monitoring him,” Micho remarked.

“We have three filters that we shall use to check him out; in the regional tour this weekend, the Under-20 friendly (March 20) and the international friendly we are planning (March 22). If he passes those then he will be there among the best.”

One of the 17 goals Sserunkuma has scored in national colours was against Burkina Faso at Namboole in 2005 during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. He will fancy his chances against the same opponents.

March 26
Burkina Faso vs. Uganda
Comoros vs. Botswana