Fabian Kizito, a Ugandan player based in Netherlands with Leonidas FC is among the 16 players who have reported for the Cranes first training exercise at Namboole Stadium. The team started training this morning, under the watchful eye of Coach Bobby Williamson ahead of their tricky 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Angola on June 03.
Kizito, who scored in his debut for the Cranes in the 2-1 loss to Egypt over a month ago, is on a break after the league in Netherlands climaxed. Coach Bobby Williamson said he was more than determined to get the team in shape before flying to Luanda next week. Bobby admitted that going to Angola is always a tough trip but promised to make sure that the team prepares well.
After getting very close to qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the Cranes team suffered a setback following the resignation of key players like skipper Ibrahim Sekagya, David Obua and defender Nestory Kizito. The team has failed to win a single match this year after losing to Egypt in a friendly played in Sudan 2-1 and falling 3-1 away to Congo Brazzaville in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
After the Angola game, the Cranes will face Senegal on June 9 in a World Cup qualifier before hosting Congo Brazzaville on June 26. Uganda has to win the Congo Brazzaville game to qualify for the next round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. While the Cranes will not have any friendly game before heading to Angola, their arch rivals Rwanda travelled to Tunisia for training ahead of their game against Algeria.
Players who attended training on Monday: Hamza Muwonge (Bunnamwaya), Simeon Masaba (URA), Joseph Ochaya (KCC), Isaac Isinde (St George), Hassan Wasswa (Kayseri, Turkey), Edward Ssali (Bunnamwaya), Godfrey Walusimbi (Bunnamwaya), Habib Kavuma (APR), Joseph Owino (Azam), Sula Matovu (St George), Mike Sserunkuma (St George), Dan Wagaluka (APR), Fabian Kizito (Leonidas, Netherlands), Caesar Okhuti (Bunnamwaya), Geoffrey Massa (Yenicami, N. Cyprus), Godfrey Ssentongo (URA)
