By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: Uganda Cranes is to host Burundi today at 4:00pm at THE Startimes stadium Lugogo on a 3-0 aggregate.
Both teams are focus on qualifying for Total Champion of African Nations (CHAN) qualifiers 2020.
Uganda Cranes will qualify for the fifth TOTAL Championship of African Nations (CHAN) final tournament given a convincing result against Burundi leading by a comfortable 3-0 result from the first leg, played in Bujumbura three weeks ago.
The Cranes now have a superior advantage and are favourites to make it to the tournament that will be hosted by Cameroon in 2020.
Cranes players including Viane Ssekajugo, Muzamiru Mutyaba and Mustafa Kizza scored for Uganda during the first leg, although Mutyaba this time round is out of the match day squad because of injury. The other players who traveled to Burundi are all available for selection.
Other players like Allan Kayiwa, goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa and youngster Abdul Karim Watambala were the additions to the team that made the away trip for the first leg.
Cranes have been ready for this match after training with nonresidential drills since last Sunday. On Wednesday, they played a test practice match with KCCA FC which ended goal-less, after which they entered residential camp at Sky Hotel, Naalya on Thursday.
Cranes head coach Abdullah Mubiru said they had few aspects they had to address ahead of the return game and that’s the scoring problem. But he said they have handled it and are optimistic they shall get positive results.
“We have put much emphasis on transitional play on how to build an attack from our own defence. We also looked at space awareness; for instance if we lost the ball how do we recover it very fast?”
Mubiru, who has been working closely with Charles Livingstone Mbabazi, Sadiq Wasswa plus the newly appointed Uganda Cranes head coach Jonathan McKinstry and the technical team, is spoilt for choice with several players in camp all roaring to go for a kill.
Some of those on the squad include; Goalkeepers: Charles Lukwago (KCCA), James Alitho (URA), Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume)
Defenders: Paul Willa (Police), Ashraf Mandela (URA), Arafat Galiwango (Police), John Revita (KCCA), Mustapha Kizza (KCCA), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers), Paul Mbowa (URA), Musitafa Mujuzi (Proline)
Midfielders: Nicholas Kasozi (KCCA), Said Kyeyune (URA), Yusuf Ssozi (Police), David Owori (SC Villa), Allan Okello (KCCA), Shafique Kagimu (URA), Vianne Ssekajjugo (Wakiso Giants), Karim Watambala (Vipers), Bright Anukani (Proline), Ibrahim Orit (Mbarara City), Allan Kayiwa (SC Vipers)
Strikers: Fahad Bayo (Vipers), Dan Sserunkuma (Vipers), Mike Mutyaba (KCCA)
