COSAFA Women U17 Championship
September 20-29, Port Luis – Mauritius
Group A Fixtures
20th Sept – Uganda – Zambia
22nd Sept – Uganda – Mauritius
24th Sept – Comoros – Uganda
The national U17 team head coach Ayub Khalifa on Sunday released the final list of 20 players for the forthcoming 2019 COSAFA Championship due September 20-29 in Mauritius.
Ayub announced the final squad immediately after the team’s second practice match against FUFA Women Elite League select team at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
The match ended 3-1 in favor of the National team with skipper Nalukenge Juliet scoring a brace and Musibika Stella netted the other goal.
The list has 3 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 6 midfielders and 6 forwards. With six, Kawempe Muslim SS has the highest number of players in the final squad.
Mukono High School has three while Uganda Martyrs High School Rubaga has two players.
“We have had enough time to test all the players and finally came up with the final list that will represent the country in COSAFA. Teamwork is our strength and the attitude of the players is high. We are ready to compete with the best,” noted Khalifa, who also confirmed Kawempe Muslim SS forward Nalukenge Juliet as the team skipper.
The S.5 student at Kawempe Muslim SS on a football bursary was part of the 2016 ARS edition and recently lauded the annual U17 Girls and Boys tournament as the best platform to expose upcoming talent from schools and the entire community.
Ayub, who is assisted by Hadijah Namuyanja and Olive Mbekeka as trainer, said that focus is put on the team positioning, movement and game intelligence in the remaining time before flying out this Wednesday to the tournament were Uganda features as a guest team.
“We are working on positioning on the pitch and strength. The girls need to understand the system of play and game approach,” added Ayub. The team has camped at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru for ten days.
Final squad:
Goal keepers: Nyayenga Daphine (Uganda Martyrs HS), Namusisi Joan (Mukono HS) and Nasasira Gift (Gadafi Integrated).
Defenders: Akadinda Gilian (Olila HS), Atwine Precious (Upper Hill College), Musibika Stella (Kawempe Muslim SS), Akiror Patricia (Masaka SS) and Adokole Bira (Amus College).
Midfielders: Namaganda Zaitun (Taggy HS), Komuntale Sumayah (King of Kings), Nadunga Bira (Olila HS), Nakacwa Kevin (Uganda Martyrs HS), Nangonzi Maureen (Mukono HS), and Nakacwa Samali (Kawempe Muslim SS).
Forwards: Nalukenge Juliet (Kawempe Muslim SS) Najjemba Fauzia (Mukono HS), Nagadya Catherine (Katuuso Community SS), Kunihira Margret (Kawempe Muslim), Nyinagahirwa Shakira (Kawempe Muslim SS) and Nandago Hadijah (Kawempe Muslim SS)
