Under-20 national football team, the Hippos have embarked on a non-residential training ahead of their first leg clash with Ghana Satellites in the 2013 Africa Youth Championship qualifier on July 28 in Kampala. Paul Nkata, the Head coach of the Hippos told URN after training at the Kampala Rugby Football Club ground in Naguru that they have started slowly to work on the physical fitness and speed of the players before entering camp on Friday at Kavumba.
He says it is unfortunate that the qualifiers are coming at a time when the League is on recess, but says they have no option but to try and get the players in shape. The former Cranes midfielder says despite the fact last week’s International friendly with South Sudan helped most of his boys who made up most of the Cranes team, he think the preparations for the qualifiers would have started a month in advance because Ghana is not a small team.
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He says except from Luwaga Kizito who sustained an injury during the International friendly with South Sudan last week, all the players are okay. Assistant coach Abudallah Mubiru says it will be very important to take advantage of the home crowd and get a good win before traveling to Ghana for the return leg.
To reach this stage Hippos eliminated Mozambique on a 5-1 goal aggregate after winning 4-0 at Nakivubo Stadium, and settling for 1-all draw in Maputo. But as the Hippos embark on preparation, information from Ghana indicates that their opponents have been training for over a month and even won the 3-Nations tournament last week in Accra after stopping Egypt 3-0 and drawing 0-0 with Namibia. The Ghana Satellites also settled for a barren draw against Benin’s U-20 on June 30.
Players in camp: Emmanuel Akol, Emmanuel Kalyowa, Omar Ahmed, Nicholas Wadada, Dennis Bigala, Hamis Katende, Henry Katongole, Yusuf Mukisa, Lawrence Kasadha, Simon Namwanja, Joseph Ochaya, Wasswa Hassan, Emma Magembe, William Owor, Gift Ali, Khalid Aucho, Ivan Sekazza, Joseph Omunuk, Fred Nkata, William Wadri, Joseph Mpande, George Abege Opio, Julius Ogwang.
