Uganda Cranes play Zambia on Saturday in their second group D match of the on-going 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) at Umuganda stadium in Rubavu.
However Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic will have to plan for the game without his two injured players skipper Faruku Miya and goalkeeper Ismail Watenga whohave been ruled out.
Miya’s recovery from the shoulder injury he picked up against Mali in the 2-2 draw is showing positive signs while Watenga’s injury will keep him out for the rest of the tournament.
‘I am devastated to lose my two star players but we need to show true character in our next games against Zambia and Zimbabwe’ said Micho shortly after Thursday’s training session held on the outer pitch of the main Umuganda stadium.
‘It is time to test the depth of our squad however Miya and Watenga are with us spiritually as we have also assigned them new roles’ added Micho.
Watenga has been ‘assigned’ to provide any valuable tactics to goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba forteh two remain custodians in camp while Miya, as he recovers from his injury has been ‘added’ as an assistant coach to Moses Basena.
‘We shall not have both players for the game against Zambia but they still add value to the team. The rest of the team will die a little for the duo’ added Micho.
Miya and Watenga sat out Thursday’s training session as they continued with treatment being attended to by Dr. Ronald Kisolo and Physiotherapist Ivan Sewanyana. They were also joined by Tanzanian CAF Medical officer Dr. Paul Gaspar Marealle.
Uganda will play Zambia on Saturday at Umuganda Stadium at 6pmLocal time (7pm in Uganda).
