Will Cranes miss massive charm of fortress Namboole?

Uganda’s most fortune-laden football stadium, Namboole, had been in need of redevelopment for some time.

 At the arrival of the deadly coronavirus in March last year, it was decided by the powers that be that it turns into a ‘hospital’ and thus closed to the sports.

New home
 It meant that the national football team – Uganda Cranes – would seek a new home for the next few matches.

 In a country devoid of sports infrastructure, the options are thin. St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende offered a sanctuary.

 It was more than a change of scenery. There was shift from the natural grass of Namboole to the astro-turf of Kitende.

 In addition, Kitende lies on the lower end in terms of pitch dimensions. Clearly, the team, comprising mainly foreign-based players accustomed to natural grass, struggled to adapt. 

Vipers defender Halid Lwaliwa rescued the side as his goal gave Uganda a 1-0 win over South Sudan last November on his home turf to retain control of their own destiny in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Acclimatisation 
Today, they return to Kitende to face group B leaders Burkina Faso hoping to have acclimatized better than last time.
Under the prevailing Covid-19 regulations, fans, often the 12th man at Namboole which has had in excess of 40,000 often, will not be allowed.

 Those fans were crucial to Uganda Cranes’ home unbeaten run stretching 10 years between South Africa’s and Togo’s 1-0 victories of 2004 and 2014 respectively.

Today’s Fixtures
Group K
Ethiopia     vs. Madagascar, 4pm
Group F
Rwanda    vs. Mozambique, 4pm
Group B 
South Sudan vs. Malawi,    4pm
Group A
Guinea              vs. Mali,        10pm

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