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Crested Cranes

CRESTED CRANES:

The Current Crested Cranes Team: L-R (Back row) Ruth Aturo (GK), Hasfa Nassuna, Grace Aluka, Yudaya Nakayenze, Shadia Nankya,  and Viola Namuddu. L-R (Front row) Captain Tracy Johns Akiror, Fazila Ikwaput, Resty Nanziri, Fauzia Najjemba, and Aisha Namukisa.

Crested Cranes is the senior women football team. Faridah Bulega is the head coach assisted by Edward Kaziba and Ayub Khalifan plus Olive Mbekeka as the team trainer. Legendary Uganda Cranes 1978 AFCON goalkeeper  Paul Ssali is the current team coordinator.

(L-R) Technical Officials Mable Kabatalindwa – Team Doctor, Olive Mbekeka – Fitness Trainer, Faridah Bulega – Head Coach, Edward Kaziba – Assistant Coach, Magala James – Goalkeeping Coach

Crested Cranes Currently ranked 143 in the whole world.

The team captain is Ruth Aturo who plies her trade with UCU Lady Cardinals . The assistant captains are Bridget Nabisaalu and Fazila Ikwaput.

The Crested Cranes played in 2019 AWCON qualifiers slipping to neighbors Kenya with a 1-0 aggregate score after a 1-0 loss away and a barren draw  in the return leg on 8th April 2018 in Lugogo.

Crested Cranes finished runners-up in CECAFA 2018 in Kigali Rwanda. The Team managed vital victories against Ethiopia (2-1), Kenya (1-0) and a draw with the hosts Rwanda (2-2). The only loss was against the champions Tanzania (4-1).

Crested Cranes Team after receiving Silver Medals during the closing ceremony of the CECAFA Women Challenge Cup in Rwanda.

In September 2018, The Crested Cranes was invited to participate in the COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa.

Crested Cranes finish third in the tournament that involved African Women football powerhouse Cameroon, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe among others.

Uganda (Crested Cranes) overcame Swaziland in the group stages with a 4-3 win, drew with Namibia 0-0 and defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in the last group match on 17th September 2018. Juliet Nalukenge and captain Tracy Jones Akiror scored the two goals. The team progressed to the semifinals only losing out to the hosts South Africa by 2-0.

Crested Cranes team that played against South Africa in COSAFA Women’s Championship in 2018

In the third-place playoff, Crested Cranes won Zambia 1-0 cuortesy of Tracy Jones Akiror’s penalty goal. Ruth Aturo was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

In April 2019, Crested Cranes played Ethiopia in the Olympics Tokyo 2020 qualifier. Unfortunately, the team was eliminated 4-2 aggregate. 1st Leg Ethiopia 3-2 Uganda and 2nd Leg Uganda 0-1 Ethiopia.

Crested Cranes Captain Tracy Jones Akiror (M) launching an attack in the game against Ethiopia.

However, Women’s Football in Uganda has progressed through a well systematic grassroots that has seen a number of achievements highlighted on the international platform. The most recent is the Uganda Girls U17 National Team that emerged champions of the COSAFA Girls U17 Championship in Mauritius in September 2019 after defeating South Africa 2-1 in the final thanks to the goals coming from Fauzia Najjemba and Juliet Nalukenge.

Nalukenge ended the tournament as the top scorer with 18 goals.

In the same year, the Uganda U17 National team won the inaugural CECAFA U17 Girls’ Championship that was hosted at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.

Fauzia Najjemba was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Uganda Girls U17 National Team lifting the COSAFA trophy

 

 

 

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