Madondo shifts focus to South Sudan tie

KAMPALA. On his first national team competitive assignment, Jinja SSS in-form forward Joel Madondo will enjoy the company of his club coach Charles Ayieko.
With six goals in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League, Madondo is standing head and shoulders above the four striking options at coach Sebastien Desabre’s disposal as he prepares to face South Sudan in the Afcon U-20 qualifiers next week.
Ayieko, who speaks of him highly and recently drew comparisons with retired Cranes striker Geoffrey Massa, is one of Desabre’s auxiliaries - along with Wasswa Bbosa.
Madondo failed to find the back of the net in the 80 minutes he played for the Kobs as they lost to Buganda Select 2-1 in Luweero last Sunday but he believes he made vital inroads in cementing a starting berth.
“I felt good playing in national team colours although I didn’t score,” he told SCORE after yesterday’s training session at Lugogo conducted by Desabre.
“If the coaches consider me in the under-23 side that is going to face South Sudan (on November 14), I believe I can start scoring goals.
“I’m getting used to my new teammates and that is making my work easy,” he added.
Madondo, who set a person target of 15 goals and breaking into the senior Cranes team later, was paired with attacking talents like Abel Eturude, Julius Poloto and Allan Okello as Desabre seeks to hone an aggressive side that kill off the contest in the first leg.
He has been earmarked by Desabre as the lead protagonist for Kobs with Allan Kayiwa, David Owori and Steven Mukwala offering cover. Jinja SSS teammate Vincent Zziwa is also jostling for a slot in a crowded midfield that also has exciting players like Pius Obuya, Nicolas Kagaba, Joseph Ssemujju and Lawrence Bukenya.