The Uganda U-17 Men’s National Team (the Uganda Cubs) will face Venezuela in their first trial game of the U-17 Dubai Youth Challenge, marking the beginning of a crucial pre-tournament series ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 scheduled for November.
The Dubai Youth Challenge features several countries using the event to fine-tune their squads before heading to Qatar. Uganda will later take on Panama and Paraguay as part of this series—an opportunity to evaluate tactical readiness, mental resilience, and team chemistry against strong opposition.
The team safely arrived in Dubai on Tuesday night, completing a smooth journey and settling into camp in excellent spirits. Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo confirmed that all players and officials are in good condition and ready to begin the next phase of their preparations.
‘This pre-tournament is a very good test for us,’ said Ssenyondo. ‘Tomorrow we are having our first game against Venezuela, and it is a crucial precursor to what we shall face in our group because we have two South American teams—Chile and Canada. Playing Venezuela will surely test us for what we might face in the tournament.’
Coach Ssenyondo noted that the team’s early arrival and pre-tournament camp were a well-thought-out decision by the Federation, aimed at helping the players acclimatise to the environmental conditions expected in Qatar.
‘The weather here is a bit heavy and different from what we are used to at home,’ Ssenyondo explained. ‘But we are hustlers—we know what we want. We are here to compete and present ourselves in the best way possible. We must have what we call mental toughness, whether it is the food or the weather. There should be no excuses. That is why FUFA organised this early—to help us adapt to similar conditions to those in Qatar.’
The warm and humid weather in Dubai has been particularly challenging, but the coach emphasised that the players are responding positively and showing strong determination during training sessions.
Goalkeeper Adrian Mukwanga, one of the team’s experienced figures having featured in the AFCON U-17 finals in Morocco, expressed optimism ahead of the first friendly.
‘I learned from Morocco that we always have to work harder to compete and succeed,’ said Mukwanga. ‘If I get the chance to play against Venezuela, I will do my best to put in a good performance.’
The Dubai camp is a platform for the Cubs to build rhythm, adapt tactically to international styles of play, and strengthen their mental edge before stepping onto the world stage.
‘We are grateful to FUFA for organising this camp and covering all the costs,’ Ssenyondo added. ‘This is a huge opportunity for the players and the technical team to get ready for the big stage.’
