The Uganda Crested Cranes (women’s senior football team) Head Coach George Lutalo is positive that the work the players are putting in during training will yield fruits when they come up against Ethiopia in the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers double header.
Crested Cranes players are currently training at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru. The team will play against Ethiopia in the first leg of the campaign at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday October 20 before the return leg in Bahir Dar on October 26.
According to Lutalo, the players are mastering the defending and attacking techniques, somethig he believes will have a lot to help the team run past fancied Ethiopia in the coming two-legged meet.
“The training is going on well and their response to learning more is also good. I am hopeful that from this group of players we shall have the best results out of the Ethiopia game on Wednesday,” Lutalo told FUFA website after Friday morning training session.
Crested Cranes had just returned from the concluded COSAFA event in South Africa where they finished outside the accolade bracket before returning for a couple of days’ break and joined residential camp, enetered day three of training at FUFA Techical center Njeru and Lutalo is impressed by the response of the players since.
Lutalo has beefed up the COSAFA side with some of the U-20 youngster players including Margret Kunihira, Fauzia Najjemba, Sumaya Komuntale, Juliet Nalukenge, among others that recently eliminated Kenya with a 10-3 first round aggregate score.
The players had a matches review session on Thursday evening, where the clips of the past matches between Uganda and Ethiopia were watched.
The Contingent In Camp.
GoalKeepers
Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Daisy Nakaziro (Lady Doves FC), Daphine Nyayenga (Lady Doves FC)
Defenders
Viola Namuddu (Makerere University WFC), Shadia Nankya (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Bira Nadunga (Olila High School WFC), Samalie Nakacwa (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Aisha Nantongo (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Sumaya Komuntale (Tooro Queens FC), Phoebe Banura (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Asia Nakibuuka (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC),
Midfielders
Shamirah Nalugya (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Rhoda Nanziri (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Sheebah Zalwango (Asubo Gafford Ladies FC), Phiona Nabbumba (She Corporate FC), Resty Kobusobozi (Tooro Queens FC), Riticia Nabbosa (Lady Doves FC), Joan Nabirye (Vihiga Queens FC), Shakilah Nyinagahilwa (Kawempe Moslem), Nandago Hadijah (Kawempe Moslem)
Forwards
Hasifa Nassuna (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Sharon Naddunga (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Resty Nanziri (Kampala Queens FC), Sandra Nabweteme (Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, Iceland), Laki Otandeka (New Jersey Copa FC, USA), Fauzia Najjemba (Kampala Queens FC), Margaret Kunihira (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Spencer Nakacwa (Lady Doves FC), Juliet Nalukenge (Apollon LFC-Syprus)
Officials
Head Coach – George Lutalo
Assistant Coach – Edward Kaziba
Goalkeeping Coach- James Magala