Uganda’s national football—the Cranes—have been invited for an International friendly against South Sudan in Juba on July 11.
Edgar Watson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) told URN today that he had spoken to the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) and they invited Uganda for the match.
Watson said playing South Sudan will be good because it will also give the national team coach Bobby Williamson a chance to try out certain players who perhaps did not make it in the recent international engagements.
The Cranes have played three games in the last three weeks, securing a 1-1 draw away against Angola and at home against Senegal in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, and demolishing Congo Brazzaville 4-0 to qualify to the next round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
After gaining independence in July last year, South Sudan was this year officially admitted into the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). They will have their first test of competition football this year when they send a team for the Cecafa Kagame Club Championships in Tanzania next month and also the national side for the Senior Challenge Cup later in the year in Nairobi, Kenya.
Yohanis Pouk, the SSFA Secretary General, had on Monday night confirmed to URN on phone about the invite and made it clear they would cater for all the expenses. Pouk described the Cranes as a big side adding that it will give the new nation an opportunity for their players.
Early this month the South Sudanese appointed Serbian born coach Zoran Derdevic to head their national team. Derdevic has also handled national teams of Yemen, Bangladesh, Philippines U-23 and Sudan.
Last year South Sudan’s national side lost 3-1 to Kenya’s League champions Tusker FC and drew 1-all against Uganda’s Sports Club Villa. The South Sudan team boasts of well tested players who were featuring for teams in the North like Roy Gulwak (Khartoum Club), Goma Genaro (Al-Hilal), Richard Justin (Khartoum Club) and Athir Thomas Magor.
