Uganda Cranes coach Bobby Williamson has said that although the 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Senegal on Saturday is a big game, he believes in his players.
Speaking after the Cranes’ morning training session at Namboole Stadium today, the Scottish born coach said picking a draw in Luanda against Angola last Sunday will give them good momentum although they are also aware they will be facing a stronger team.
//Cue in: “The competition is great…
Cue out:….keep winning football matches.” //
The Cranes team that arrived last night after a delay in Nairobi, resumed training on Wednesday and all the players including the ones who did not travel to Angola trained.
Tanzania-based striker, Emmanuel Okwi, who scored the goal in Angola, said during the press conference that although he admires some of the Senegal players, there is nothing really special about them and it will be 11 men against the same number come Saturday.
Goalkeeper Dennis Onyango sounded disappointed about the goal conceded in Luanda but that he is looking for a clean sheet against the Senegalese Lions of Teranga team.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Vice President in-charge of Finance, Anthony Kimuli later said the game will take place at Namboole Stadium although they are still trying to sort out financial issues with management of the Stadium.
It emerged on Tuesday that the Stadium was demanding for over 90 million shillings to have the game played at Namboole, but FUFA has now involved Vice President Edward Ssekandi, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and the State Minister for Sports, Charles Bakkabulindi, to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese national side is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday evening on a charted flight from Dakar. The team sent a three-man advance party on Tuesday. FUFA spokesman Rogers Mulindwa said the Senegalese officials have decided to keep secret the hotel where the team will be residing.
The Senegal contingent includes Augustin Senghor, Louis Lamotte, Cheikh Seck, Aliounde Mbaye, Boubacar Ba and Thieyacine Diagne. The other members of the team are Marie Koto, Abdoukarime Diouf, Aliou Cisse, Ferdinand Coly, Fallou Cisse, Mama Goumbala, Mor Seck, Enguerran Housez, Mamadou Faye and Gaspard Gomis.
The team also has Ibou Diatta, Cheikh Tidiane, Mamadou Kante, Oumar Gaye and Therno Dioum, Cheikh Gueya, Felix Djibalene, Jean Sane, Rigobert Malou, Charlemagne Mbaye, Khadim Ndiaye, Bouna Coundoul and Ousmane Mane.
Papa Gueye, Abdoulaye Ba, Sergne Mbodji, Pape Ndiaye, Doudou Faty, Cheikh Mbengue, Cheikhou Kouyate, Richardo William Faty, Mohamed Diame, Remi Gomis, Idrissa Gueye, Stephene Badji, Ibrahima Balde, Sadio Mane, Papiss Demba Cisse, Dame Ndoye, Souleymane Camara, Ibrahima Toure and Moussa Konate are the other members making the trip to Kampala.
