Uganda Cranes (Uganda men’s senior national football team) had their first training session on Monday, 16th August 2021 ahead of their pre World Cup qualifier camp in Jordan, which will eventually prepare them for the event proper, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The maiden session held at Kabira Country Club, Bukoto in Kampala took two hours and it involved fitness, stretching and some ball work. It was graced by three thirds of the earlier summoned team.
Head coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic oversaw the session and was joined by the fitness and performance director Franck Plaine, goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba Kisitu, team manager Geoffrey Massa and other officials.
Micho who was reappointed as Cranes tactician last month after leaving in 2017 said that the first session was impressive though there’s still work to be done.
‘We have started the journey to the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification process. Every successful journey begins with a single step and today, we have started. I am impressed by the mentality and attitude of the players. I will continue to monitor the performance of everyone as we intensify the sessions’ Micho told FUFA website.
Majority of the locally based legion were present with the exception of players from Express and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) who were at the 2021 Cecafa Kagame Cup in Dar es salaam city, Tanzania.
Skipper Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Yunus Sentamu and Egyptian based winger Abdul Lumala are also expected in camp as soon as possible.
The Monday afternoon session was held at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.
Tuesday’s morning session will be held at Lugogo with the afternoon session for Gym work at Kabira.
Uganda’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Preparations
Programme
Friday, 13th August 2021 – Preliminary squad of local based players plus foreign-based players currently in Uganda summoned.
Saturday, 14th August 2021 – Team enters residential camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel after undergoing COVID-19 tests.
Monday, 16th August 2021 – Team starts training (Kabira Country Club – 9 AM & MTN Omondi Stadium – 4:30 PM)
Tuesday, 17th August 2021 – Training (MTN Omondi Stadium – 9 AM & City Gym – 5 PM)
Wednesday, 18th – Friday, 20th August 2021 – Training sessions (Venues to be confirmed)
Saturday, 21st August 2021 – Team departs for foreign training camp in Jordan (2 build-up games against Syria will be played here on 23rd and 26th August).
Friday, 27th August 2021 – Team departs for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Majority of the foreign based players will join the team there
Sunday, 29th August 2021 – Friendly game against Ethiopia
Tuesday, 31st August 2021 – Team arrives in Nairobi for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kenya.
Thursday, 2nd September 2021 – Kenya Vs Uganda at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi
Preliminary summoned Team:
Goalkeepers:
Joel Mutakubwa (Express FC), Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC), Simon Tamale (Soltilo Bright Stars FC), Nafian Alionzi (URA FC)
Defenders:
Enock Walusimbi (Express FC), Innocent Wafula (Mbarara City FC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Eric Ssenjobe (Police FC), Aziizi Kayondo (Vipers SC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC), Murushid Juuko (Express FC) Garvin Kizito Mugweri (SC Villa), Kenneth Ssemakula (SC Villa), Hassan Muhamood (Police FC), Denis Iguma (KCCA FC)
Midfielders:
Nicholas Kasozi (Kyetume FC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC), Muzamiru Mutyaba (Express FC), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA FC), Ali Abubaker Gift (KCCA FC), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers SC), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Abdu Lumala (Pyramids FC)
Forwards:
Richard Basangwa (Vipers SC), Steven Dese Mukwala (URA FC), Patrick Henry Kaddu (RS Berkene), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Unattached), Yunus Ssentamu (Vipers SC), Jude Ssemugabi (Mbarara City FC), Martin Kizza (Express FC)
