Team is still competent even without me - Masiko

The former KCCA midfield enforcer (Tom Masiko). FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Against Zambia, Mutyaba and Kyambadde ran out of steam in the second half and had to be replaced by Waisswa and Nelson Senkatuka respectively.
  • Similarly, Sadam was replaced by Muhammad Shaban in the 70th minute as his touch and passing rate started deserting him.

Chan fixtures tomorrow
Uganda vs Namibia
Ivory Coast vs Zambia

KAMPALA. It didn’t take long for Vipers box to box midfielder Tom Masiko to come to terms with his late omission from the Uganda Cranes final team participating in the Chan tourney.

Masiko, alongside former KCCA teammate Mustapha Kizza, was trimmed off by head coach Sebastien Desabre after the friendly matches against Guinea and Congo that preceded the tourney in Morocco. He partly featured in both games but not to the total satisfaction of the technical team.

“The competition in the midfield was tense. I have trust in the players left in camp and I believe they can do a better job,” Masiko told Daily Monitor yesterday.

“I’m still part of the team and I hope to be back in other tournaments.”
Masiko reveals that not all hope is lost on the Cranes even after succumbing 3-1 to Zambians in the opening game on Sunday.
“Nothing is impossible. They can still make it through the group although the weather challenge persists,” he added.

The former KCCA midfield enforcer is grateful for the new coach for instilling ‘professionalism’ in the team and envisages a brighter future for Cranes with the Frenchman in charge.

Professional
“He is very professional. He will come to you and tell you openly when you won’t be part of the team,” he revealed.
The midfield set of Taddeo Lwanga, Muzamir Mutyaba, Moses Waisswa, Allan Kyambadde, Sadam Juma, Abubaker Kasule and Rahmat Ssenfuka stood in Masiko’s path to getting a slot on the final 23-man team.

“All they should do now is to stay focused and fight harder in the remaining matches against Namibia and Ivory Coast,” Masiko advised.

Against Zambia, Mutyaba and Kyambadde ran out of steam in the second half and had to be replaced by Waisswa and Nelson Senkatuka respectively.

Similarly, Sadam was replaced by Muhammad Shaban in the 70th minute as his touch and passing rate started deserting him.
Cranes face Namibia next on Thursday in another determinant match that will put Cranes midfield in the spotlight.