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Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic ‘Micho’ has summoned a squad of 35 players to start training ahead of the upcoming Navruz Cup mini-tournament in Uzbekistan.
The squad consists of 20 StarTimes Uganda Premier League players and 15 others who feature elsewhere.
Of the 35, five are goalkeepers, nine are defenders, 13 midfielders and 8 forwards.
Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi, Allan Kyambadde have all returned to the fold.
Marvin Youngman, Najib Yiga and Alfred Leku are some of the new faces summoned by Micho.
The Uganda Cranes will play alongside Tajikistan, host Uzbekistan and the Kyrgs Republic in a mini-tournament will be held between 25th and 29th March at Markaziy Stadium, Namangan City.
‘After qualifying for two consecutive AFCON finals in 2017 and 2019, Uganda Cranes missed out on the 2021 edition in Cameroon. We immediately went for early preparations to ensure qualification for AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast with an international friendly match in South Africa, CECAFA senior challenge cup in Ethiopia (U-23), international build up in Ethiopia, six FIFA World Cup qualification matches and recently a UEFA-Asia tour. The upcoming mini-tournament in Uzbekistan will help us to conduct the main general check-up before the AFCON 2023 qualifiers in June 2022 (1st – 14th June). We have been in transition where several players have retired including captain Dennis Onyango, Hassan Wasswa, Mike Azira, Juuko and others. We have an important duty to make ourselves ready’ Micho revealed to FUFA website.
According to FUFA, the whole team training programme will be released soon where two internal regional tours have been planned to help assess the returning players and the local legion.
‘We shall test the players with internal regional build up and tune the competitive mode since friendly matches are all about trying, testing and experimenting before naming the final 23 players who will travel to Uzbekistan.’ Micho added.
The final team to Uzbekistan will then be named before travelling for the first game against Tajikistan on 25th March 2022.
The third place play-off and final matches will then be held on 29th March 2022. All matches will be played at Markaziy stadium in Namangan.
Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Charles Lukwago (St George FC, Ethiopia), Alionzi Nafian (URA FC, Uganda), Isma Watenga (Chippa United FC, South Africa), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA FC, Uganda), Jack Komakech (Vipers SC, Uganda)
Defenders: James Begisa (UPDF FC, Uganda), Hassan Jurua (KCCA FC, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Herbert Achai (KCCA FC, Uganda), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC, Scotland), Timothy Denis Awanyi (Ashdod, Israel), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC, Uganda), Livingstone Mulondo (Vipers SC, Uganda), Fesali Najib (URA FC, Uganda)
Central Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Yanga, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers, Uganda), Steven Sserwadda (Red Bull New York, USA), George Kasonko (BUL, Uganda), Marvin Youngman (Soltilo Bright Stars, Uganda), Moses Waiswa (Supersport United, South Africa)
Attacking Midfielders: Allan Okello (Paradou, Algeria), Martin Kizza (Express FC, Uganda), Najib Yiga (Vipers SC, Uganda), Allan Kyambadde (El Gouna, Egypt), Farouk Miya (Lviv, Ukraine), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC, Uganda), Rogers Mato (KCCA FC, Uganda)
Forwards: Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Kiyovu FC, Rwanda), Patrick Henry Kaddu (KCCA FC, Uganda), Mohamed Shaban (Onduparaka FC, Uganda), Fahad Bayo (Bnei Sakhin, Israel), Derrick Kakooza (Walmiera, Latvia), Alfred Leku (Arua Hill SC, Uganda), Yunus Junior Sentamu (Vipers SC, Uganda), Sadat Happy Anaku (KCCA FC, Uganda)
