Uganda Cranes Head coach Milutin Sredojevic has named Moses Basena as replacement for Livingstone Mbabazi as assistant coach of the men’s national senior side ahead of the team’s camp in Jordan.
“Mbabazi opted to remain at his club yet FUFA’s objective is to have a National team coach who is not attached to any club,” local football governing body FUFA said in a statement on Saturday adding that; the Head Coach has a contractual mandate to name his backroom staff.”
Mbabazi recently secured a coaching job with newly promoted Uganda Premier League side Arua Hill Sports Club and has opted to remain at the club to prepare his side for the 2021/22 football season.
Basena who has been without a club is no stranger to Micho having worked together in respective roles at club level (SC Villa)
Basena is also no stranger to the national side having taken charge on interim basis in 2017 after Micho left, only to return a few days ago.
Micho recently summoned a preliminary squad of 30 players to prepare for both the local and foreign training camps prior to the first World Cup Qualifier game against Kenya next month.
The players have today entered a residential camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel after undergoing a mandatory COVID-19 test
After the camp, the team will travel to Jordan where they will have two friendly games against the Syria National Team on 23rd and 26th August.
The team will then depart for Ethiopia on 27th August for another friendly game two days later. The remaining foreign based players will join the team there.
After the friendly game against Ethiopia, Uganda Cranes contingent will then move to Nairobi, Kenya on 31st August ahead of the first 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier game against the Harambee Stars.
Uganda is in Group E of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers alongside Kenya, Rwanda and Mali.
Preliminary Squad
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)
