Uganda Cranes contingent safely arrived in Tunisia on Monday as preparations for the forthcoming African Nations Championship in Algeria hit a new gear.
Players and officials set foot in Tunis at midday before moving to Sousse where the team will have ten days of camping.
Dr. Apollo Ahimbisibwe, a FUFA Executive Committee member who is the Head of Delegation lauded Government for offering financial support in time to help the team prepare well.
“We thank God that the team has arrived in Tunisia safely. As FUFA, we want to give good preparations to the players because our target is to perform well at CHAN. We extend our appreciation to the Government of Uganda for availing the finances in time to enable us have such kind of preparations.” He said.
Upon arrival in Sousse, the team had a light training session at El Mouradi Palace pitch. Coach Milutin Sredojevic aka Micho indicated this phase will help the team in so many ways.
“After ten days of camping in Kampala, we have shifted to Tunisia for yet another phase of our preparation. We hope to achieve so many things in the next ten days the team will be here,” he started.
“We chose Tunisia because they are neighbours with Algeria and have so many things in common including weather and food. Therefore, we want the players to acclimatize to certain things before entering the final tournament.” Micho added.
The coach also confirmed the set of friendly matches Uganda will have in a bid to fine tune the players.
“We are looking at three competitive matches starting with Sudan on Tuesday, they have been second runners up at CHAN twice. On Thursday, we shall have a game against Cameroon to have a feel of teams from Central Africa before taking on Mali on Sunday. We looked at our opponents at CHAN and selected friendlies that will give us a semblance of what we expect to face in Algeria.”
Uganda is in Group B with Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Squad in Tunisia
Goalkeepers
Nafian Alionzi (URA FC), Joel Mutakubwa (Gaddafi FC), Jack Komakech (Vipers SC)
Defenders
Ashiraf Mandela (Vipers SC), James Begisa (URA FC), Derrick Ndahiro (URA FC), Isa Mubiru (Vipers SC), Hillary Mukundane (Vipers SC), Kenneth Ssemakula(SC Villa), Geoffrey Wasswa (KCCA FC), Gift Fred (SC Villa)
Midfielders
Siraje Ssentamu (Vipers SC), Marvin Joseph Youngman (Vipers SC), Abdu Karim Watambala(Vipers SC), Moses Waiswa (KCCA FC)
Forwards
Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers SC), Travis Mutyaba (SC Villa), Moses Aliro (Wakiso Giants FC), Rogers Kassim Mato (KCCA FC), Bright Anukani (Vipers SC), Titus Ssematimba (Wakiso Giants), Frank Ssebufu (Wakiso Giants FC), Najib Yiga (Vipers SC), Nelson Ssenkatuka(Soltilo Bright Stars FC)
Officials
Leader of Delegation – Dr. Apollo Ahimbisibwe
Head Coach – Milutin Sredojevic
Assistant Coach – Moses Basena
Goalkeeping Coach – Fred Kajoba
Fitness Trainer – Arthur Kyesimira
Team Doctor – Emmanuel Nakabago
Physiotherapist – Ivan Ssewanyana
Team Manager – Geoffrey Massa
National Teams’ Officer – Paul Mukatabala
Equipment Managers – Samuel Mulondo and Ayub Balyejjusa
FUFA Communications Director – Ahmed Hussein
Team Media Officer – Joel Muyita
FUFA Tv – Patrick Lugemwa
FUFA Staff – Richard Nadigobe