As days draw closer to the eagerly awaited Total Africa Cup of Nations 2017, the Uganda Cranes has intensified preparations for the biggest football show case on the continent.
On day seven of the residential training, three more foreign based players reported to camp and these included historic team captain Geoffrey Massa, Khalid Aucho all from Baroka FC in South Africa and Mike Azira of Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer of USA .
The trio trained with the rest in the first training session of day seven on Tuesday morning at the Islamic University In Uganda in Kabojja .
The other South African based player Denis Onyango will join the team before the team travels to Tunisia on 30th December.
While the other six players in the names of Robert Odongkara , Yassar Mugerwa, Moses Oloya, William Kizito Luwagga and Faruku Miya will join the team in Tunisia.
After the morning training session at Kabojja, the national team coach Sredejovic ‘Micho, Milutin said that the reporting of the three players it’s such a great opportunity because the team will have a
variety.
‘The three players are all important to the team and this gives us an operational variety so that we are not predictable as a readable book’ said aid Micho
Micho added that the task ahead of the technical team is to prepare the boys in all aspects so as to compete favorably in the upcoming AFCON 2017.
‘We have to prepare all the players for the competition especially the upcoming AFCON 2017 .We always tell the players that this is their opportunity which they need to utilise’ Added the Serbian tactician.
The players have already undergone the off field sessions on media and marketing guidelines of the AFCON Finals presented on Boxing Day at Serene Suites by the FUFA Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein.
They will also get presentations on refereeing by the FUFA Referees Manager Samuel Egegsa,
Meanwhile FUFA Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein confirms that Faruku Miya will jet in on Wednesday while the rest of the players who were summoned will link up with Cranes in Tunisia from their respective clubs.
The players in Camp
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga (Vipers, Uganda), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA, Uganda),Salim Jamal Magoola (El Meriekh , Sudan)
Defenders: Ronald Mukiibi (Östersunds FK, Sweden), Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers, Uganda), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda), Shafiq Batambuze (Tusker, Kenya), Isaac Isinde (St George,
Ethiopia), Timothy Awany (KCCA, Uganda), Murshid Juuko (Simba,Tanzania) ,
Midfielders: Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Vipers, Uganda), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA, Uganda), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu (SC Villa Jogoo, Uganda), Tonny Mawejje (Thotur,Iceland)
Aucho (Baroka FC, South Africa ), Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids, USA)
Strikers: Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCCA, Uganda), Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka, Uganda), Yunus Sentamu (Ilves, Finland), Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA, Uganda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Geoffrey Massa (Baroka, South Africa)
MAIN PHOTO: He led the Cranes back to the promised land. Geoffrey Massa, joined his troops at IUIU Kabojja for training on Tuesday.
