Uganda starts preparations for 2017 Afcon qualifiers
Xinhua, June 2, 2015 Adjust font size:
Uganda Cranes on Monday started training ahead of the qualifiers of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Head Coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic took the team through drills at the Kabira Country Club in Kampala. The Cranes who last qualified for the 1978 Afcon will host Botswana on June 13 at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
"We have started today and I am monitoring the players slowly as we also prepare for a friendly match against Gambia on June 9. This game will give us a true picture because the Gambian Scorpions have several professional players," reasoned Sredojevic.
The Gambia Scorpions will camp in Kampala for four days before flying to South Africa to take on the Bafana Bafana in their opening group game.
"Although I am leaving out some star players for several reasons I believe the players I am calling for this particular match will do the work," Sredojevic told Xinhua.
He said some of the professionals who are not invited include Emmanuel Okwi, Daniel Walusimbi, Geoffrey Kizito, Moses Oloya and Ivan Bukenya.
Sredojevic said he will have the trio of Boban Zirintusa, Geoffrey Massa and goalkeeper Dennis Onyango from the South African top League all making the squad. The other teams in the Group D include Comoros and 2012 finalists Burkina Faso. Endite