2019 Copa Dar es Salaam Championship
Uganda’s Fixtures:
Sunday
Tanzania vs Uganda (4:45 PM)
Tuesday
Burundi vs Uganda (4:45 PM)
Seychelles vs Uganda (Date & Time to be communicated)
Uganda vs Malawi (Date & Time to be communicated)
The newly crowned Airtel-FUFA beach soccer player of the year Sulaiman Ochero will lead the Uganda Sand Cranes team against hosts Tanzania as the 2019 Copa Dar es Salaam commences this Sunday at the Coco beach till December 26 in Tanzania.
Ochero beat Luboyera Herbert (Mutola) and teammate Mutebi Ronald (league best goalkeeper) to the accolade –having emerged the league top scorer (29 goals) as his St Lawrence University won last season beach soccer league whilst being voted the league 2018/19 MVP.
A 20-man Uganda delegation led by FUFA Executive committee member Ronnie left for Tanzania on Friday aboard the Uganda Airlines Bombardier.
The contingent has 12 players with two goalkeepers; Meddie Kibirige and Nasser Lwamunda. The other outfield players include; Paul Lule, Douglas Muganga, Davis Kasujja, Rica Byaruhanga, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Sulaiman Ochero, Alex Emmanuel Wasswa, Ronald Magwali, Rowch Peter Somoka and Faizo Muwawu.
The final team was selected by the technical team led by head coach Salim Jamal Muwonge after a fortnight of intense residential training at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.
Last year, Uganda finished second in the competition and will have to see off Tanzania (Hosts), Malawi, Seychelles and Burundi if they are to win the title.
“This is a great tournament for us because it will give our players first competitive test in the year 2019. We want to prepare earlier for the AFCON 2020 beach soccer championship and I believe the team will perform well,” noted Deo Mutabazi, the Uganda beach soccer association (UBSA) Chairman.
The Copa Dar es Salaam tournament is envisaged as part of the early arrangements undertaken by FUFA to help Sand Cranes prepare for the forthcoming AFCON 2020 Beach Soccer championship to be hosted in Uganda.
Delegation:
Leader of delegation: Ronnie Kalema (FUFA Executive Committee Member)
UBSA Chairman: Deo Mutabazi
Beach soccer Delegate: Anthony Tumwesigye
Head Coach: Salim Jamal Muwonge
Assistant Coach: Bashir Mutyaba
Team physician: Ivan Kulika
Team manager: Tonny Ssebagala
Media: Hamza Nsereko Kawuma
