UGANDA CRANES REGIONAL TOURS 2017:
Western Region Select 1-0 Uganda Cranes
Western region football Association select team defeated the Uganda Cranes locally based side 1-0 during the national regional tour match played at the Kabale Municipal stadium on Saturday.
Bashir Babu’s well taken penalty is all the home side needed in the 57th minute of the well attended game.
Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt.Hon Ruhakana Rugunda was Chief Guest amongst the hundreds of guests and fans at the stadium.
Before the game, Rugunda praised FUFA and the Uganda Cranes in particular for qualifying to the AFCON again after over 39 years.
‘I want to thank the players, FUFA and Coach Micho for the great work of seeing the national team qualify to the Africa Cup of Nations again after so many years’ Rugunda stated.
Head coach for the national side, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic used the opportunity to test the different players that could be used in the upcoming 2018 CHAN qualifiers.
With the exception of defender Savio Kabugo as well as the two goalkeepers Tom Ikara and Saidi Keni, all the players were engaged in the match.
There were signs of progression with a number of goal scoring chances created.
Nelson Senkatuka, Milton Karisa, Erisa Ssekisambu, Julius Malingumu and Tom Masiko all portrayed the urge to find the back of the net which will be polished in the coming days ahead of the away CHAN 2018 qualifier to South Sudan in Juba.
The game was a perfect preparatory mechanism for the national team ahead of the CHAN 2018 qualification journey.
FUFA Marketing team led by the Marketing Director, Esther Musoke perfectly liaised with the Western Region Football Association, local football leaders, security agencies and the sponsors of the regional tours (Airtel Uganda and Nile Breweries Limited) to prepare both teams, brand the stadium, ensure peace, order as well as tranquility in the match organization prior to, during and after the game.
This was Uganda Cranes’ third loss on the national tours since 2016.
The other two losses came at the hands of West Nile in Arua (2016) and lately in Paidha (2017) at the Betway Green Light and Bar Okoro -Zombo stadia respectively.
Nile Breweries and Airtel Uganda Limited are joint sponsors of the national regional tours.
Western Uganda Regional Football Association hosted the match.
There was a special moment of silence before the game in memory of the fallen football administrators John Ssebaana Kizito (former FUFA Chairman) and Former Treasurer Michael Okiror.
Both veteran football administrators passed away on Monday this week.
Team Line ups:
Western Region Select XI: Sula Matovu (G.K), Zaid Byekwaso, Umar Kato, Bashir Babu, Johnson Turinawe (89′ Michael Baseme), Cleophus Fiat, Nasir Saddam (77′ Michael Muhangi), Yusuf Abato (86′ Joseph Akandwanaho), Hassan Kakuru, Sadat Nsubuga, Alex Mandela
Subs Not Used: Denis Otim (G.K), Bruce Rubanza, Brian Owomugisha, Alex Twinamatisko
Head coach: Vialli Bianomugisha
Uganda Cranes XI: Ismael Watenga (G.K), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Captain), Brian Majwega, Bernard Muwanga, Rashid Toha, Nicholas Kasozi, Milton Karisa, Tom Masiko, Nelson Senkatuka, Shaban Muhammad, Erisa Ssekisambu
Uganda Cranes 2nd half team: Ismael Watenga (G.K), Deus Bukenya, Martin Kiiza, John Adriko, Lawrence Bukenya, Bassey Methiodius, Julius Malingumu, Shafik Kagimu, Solomon Okwalinga, Simon Sserunkuma
Subs Not Used: Tom Ikarah (G.K), Saidi Keni (G.K),Savio Kabugo
Head coach: Milutin Sredejovic
Match Officials:
Center Referee: Paul Turyamureeba
1st Assistant Referee: Emmy Kakooza
2nd Assistant Referee: Gilbert Ngendo
4th Official: Moses Kanyarutokye
