It is full house in the Uganda Cranes camp after four players joined the team on Tuesday to bring the total to 29. These include skipper Denis Onyango and the Israel-based trio of William Luwagga Kizito, Fahad Bayo and Timothy Awany.
Onyango arrived on Tuesday morning and immediately joined the rest of the players who were conducting last training at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Coach Mubiru is unfazed with the late arrival of the senior members of the squad and indicates he has been in constant communication with them.
“We expected this. Most of them had games at their respective clubs on Sunday and that explains their late arrival. But we have been in constant communication with not only Onyango but even William Luwagga Kizito, Fahad Bayo and Timothy Awany who have also arrived today.”
The coach indicates that the team is in perfect shape for Wednesday’s encounter and aiming at getting maximum points.
“Everything we have tried to work on has been successful. The team is in good spirit, the players have been complying and responding well. Everyone is ready to face the task ahead of us. We are hoping for the best result in tomorrow’s game.
Mubiru insists that that game is not about him as an individual but rather an opportunity for Uganda to seal qualification to next year’s AFCON in Cameroon.
I don’t want to be selfish for this game to be entirely about me as a person. It is important for all of as a country. It is a dream for every Ugandan to see the team performs well and it will even be more important that we win and brighten our chances of qualifying for the third successive time.
Uganda Cranes Vice Captain Emmanuel Okwi indicates that the players are ready to fight for maximum results tomorrow.
We know how important the game is. We are prepared as players and ready to fight for the best result against Burkina Faso. The preparations have been smooth; the coaches have done their best to make sure we are in fine shape.
The Cranes will wind up their group matches with an away fixture against the Flames in Lilongwe on March 29.
Fufa has issued a statement through communications director Ahmed Hussein stating Uganda Airlines will fly the team on one of its Bombardiers for the away match against the Flames in Lilongwe.
“The team will fly out on March 28, 2021, aboard Uganda Airlines bombardier. It is important for the national team to travel with a lot of comfort during the current Covid-19 times when you need the entire team to move together for better preparations”Ahmed Hussein cited.
“It should be noted the Uganda Cranes used Bombardier in our away game against Burkina Faso which ended in a barren draw.”Hussein noted.
Players in the camp for the games:
Goalkeepers
Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Jamal Salim (Al Hilal, Sudan), Charles Lukwago(KCCA FC-Uganda), Kigonya Mathias ( Azam FC- Tanzania)
Defenders
Kizza Mustapha (DC Montreal- USA), Ronald Mukiibi(Ostersunds FK, Sweden), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam, Tanzania), Timothy Denis Awany (Sport Club Ironi, Ashdod, Israel), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, Democratic Republic of Congo), Lwaliwa Halid (Vipers SC-Uganda), Elvis Bwomono (Southend United, England), Juuko Murushid (Express FC-Uganda), Kizito Mugweri Gavin (SC Villa- Uganda)
Midfielders
Miya Faruku (Konyaspor- Turkey), William Kizito Luwagga (Hapoel Kfar Saba- Israel), Waiswa Moses (SupersportUnited-South Africa), Lwanga Taddeo (Simba SC- Tanzania), Michael Azira (New Mexico United-, USA), Allan Kyambadde (El Gouna, Egypt), Allan Okello (Paradou,Algeria), Lumala Abdu (Pyramids FC- Egypt), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC-Uganda), Orit Ibrahim (Vipers SC-Uganda).
Forwards
Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Fahad Bayo (Sport Club Ironi Ashdod, Israel), KadduPatrick (Youssoufia Berrechid-Tunisia), Sentamu Yunus (Vipers SC-Uganda), Isiagi Daniel (Jomo Cosmos-South Africa).
