Author: Ahmed Marsha

International Build-up: Uganda Vs Gabon (Closed Door Match)

At FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru

Kick-off: 3 p.m (Live on 102.1 FUFA f.m and Azam T.V)

Match Officials:

Alex Muhabi (Match Referee), Mark Ssonko (1^st Assistant Referee), Okello Lee (2^nd Assistant Referee), Dennis Batte (Reserve Referee), Catherine Adipo (Match Commissioner/ Assessor)

The match referees to officiate Sunday’s build up between Uganda Cranes and Gabon have been named.

FIFA referee Alex Muhabi will handle the game as the centre referee. He will be assisted by Mark Ssonko (first assistant) and Okello Lee (second assistant).

Dennis Batte is the reserve referee whilst Catherine Adipo will be the match commissioner and referees’ assessor.

Gabon is already in the country and will be accommodated at Ci-Sand Suites in the heart of Jinja town.

Uganda’s players trained on Saturday morning and are expected to conduct a last training session ahead of the build up in the afternoon for one hour.

Meanwhile released the three more players Basoma Andrew, Philip Wandyaka and Miton Karisa from camp.

‘These players have strong qualities. We shall keep following them for future international engagements’ said Micho.

The players left in camp will now be part of the Uganda Cranes contingent to Rwanda for the 2016 CHAn Finals.

Uganda is in the same group with Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mali.

Uganda’s opening match is against Mali on 19th January in Rubavu.

The 23 players in camp at Njeru:

Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C), Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C), Watenga Ismail (Vipers FC)

Defenders: OKot  Denis (KCCA FC), Kasagga Richard (URA FC), Nsubuga Joseph (Bright Stars), Muleme Isaac (SC Villa Jogoo),  Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA FC), Timothy Awany (KCCA), Ochaya Joseph (KCCA FC), Muwanga Bernard (Bright Stars FC),

Midfielders: Ntege Ivan (KCCA FC), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Mutyaba Muzamil (KCCA FC), Miya Faruku (Vipers), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo)

Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Kalanda Frank (URA), Okhuti Ceasar (KCCA FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers SC)

Photo: L-R: Three of the 4 FIFA Referees Alex Muhabi, Mark Ssonko and Dennis Batte at an international match. Balikowa (3rd from Left) will not be officiating on Sunday but he has been assigned for the game between Uganda and Cameroon on Wednesday.

The national team composed of local based players preparing for CHAN in Rwanda has reached day 3 of residential training at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.

At day three, the team went for a forty minutes steam bath at Fitness First Fitness Center in Jinja .

Later, the FUFA Communications Manager, Ahmed Hussein conducted a media orientation to the players and officials with the team.

The media orientation to the players comes days after FUFA held a similar programme for the media personnel accredited to cover the CHAN finals in Rwanda.

The players were guided on how to conduct themselves in training, at press conferences, during and after the matches at the CHAN championships.

The team is to have field training later in the evening at 4.30 pm.

The 26 players in camp at Njeru:

Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C), Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C), Watenga Ismail (Vipers FC)

Defenders: Denis Okot (KCCA FC), Richard Kasagga (URA FC), Nsubuga Joseph (Bright Stars), Isaac Muleme (SC Villa Jogoo),  Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA FC), Timothy Awany (KCCA), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA FC), Benard Muwanga (Bright Stars FC),

Midfielders: Ntege Ivan (KCCA FC), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Milton Karisa (BUL), Mutyaba Muzamil (KCCA FC), Miya Faruku (Vipers), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo), Basooma Andrew (Sadolin)

Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Kalanda Frank (URA), Richard Wandyaka (JMC), Okhuti Ceasar (KCCA FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers SC)

The Uganda National team composed of local based players has reached day two of residential training camp at FUFA Technical Center in Njeru .

The team composed of 26 players had a two hour training session in the morning from 7 a.m where the coach’s emphasis was on power, stamina to improve the tactical patterns of play.

Micho said;

The reason for the early morning training is to give players enough resting time before returning for the evening session

In regards to the above, Uganda Cranes players are geared up to give in all the best of their ability to make Ugandans proud at the CHAN finals in Rwanda.

‘We narrowly failed to qualify to the quarter finals in South Africa but we are now committed to get past the group stages ,we are not participants but competitors this time’ said Uganda Cranes left fullback Isaac Muleme.

We have acclimatized to the artificial turf which will be used in Rubavu where we shall have our group stage games. The camp at the FUFA Technical Center has lent a hand to us get used to the artificial turf situation

Denis Okot the team’s rightful back promised to work hand in hand with the teammates because they are all focused and won’t go for honeymoon in Rwanda.

‘The way I see the players’ response gives me courage to assure Ugandans of only positive results.

We are not tourists to Rwanda ,We have gone for a mission we need to accomplish ‘ said new KCCA Captain Denis Okot

Training resumes today at 4.30 pm and tomorrow.

The 26 players in camp at Njeru:

Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C), Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C), Ismail Watenga (Vipers FC)

Defenders: Dennis Okot (KCCA FC), Richard Kasagga (URA FC), Nsubuga Joseph (Bright Stars), Isaac Muleme (SC Villa Jogoo), Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA FC), Timothy Awany (KCCA), Ochaya Joseph (KCCA FC), Muwanga Bernard (Bright Stars FC),

Midfielders: Ivan Ntege (KCCA FC), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Milton Karisa (BUL), Mutyaba Muzamil (KCCA FC), Miya Faruku (Vipers), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo), Andrew Basooma (Sadolin Paints)

Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Kalanda Frank (URA), Richard Wandyaka (JMC), Okhuti Ceasar (KCCA FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers SC)

Uganda has attained the best ever position on the FIFA rankings released on Thursday, 7th January 2016.

The Cranes are now ranked 62nd out of the 209 FIFA Member Associations.

Uganda, who recently won the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup remains the best nation in the region.

Belgium is best in the first FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings of 2016, while Argentina and Spain have also held onto their respective second and third positions.

Kyrgyzstan moved one slot to 107^th, their best-ever positions in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Top 5 in Africa; Cote d’Ivoire is Africa’s top ranked country at 19th, Algeria 28th, Ghana 33rd, Cape Verde Islands 39th, Tunisia

CECAFA Region; Uganda 62nd, Rwanda 91st, Kenya 101st, Burundi 110th, Ethiopia 118th, Tanzania 126th, Sudan 130th, south Sudan 130th, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somali all ranked 204th,

Other Impressive movers in the rankings;

Zambia (67th, up 6), Rwanda (91st, up 10), Thailand (121st, up 12), Tanzania (126th, up 6) and Sri Lanka (188th, up 6).

Deadline for payment of the CAF A (Module 1 course) is 11th  January 2016.

All payments to be deposited at FUFA Bank account and no cash money shall be acknowledged at venue.

Account name: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

Bankers: DFCU

Account number: 01011350005991

Fee: 500,000/= per module

The Uganda national team composed of home based players has conducted its day one of training at FUFA Technical Center Njeru .

The team composed of 26 players conducted two training sessions on Wednesday in the morning from 7 a.m- 10 a.m and later in the evening at 4 .30 p.m -7 pm.

After the morning training session, the team coach Milutin Sredejovic said that he has segmented training into three phases –  before the Gabon trial match, the second phase will be towards the game against Cameroon and finally the polishing phase before traveling to Rwanda.

‘I am satisfied with the way players are focused, concentrated committed and dedicated. This motivates me and the entire technical team and we are working to get netter each day that comes by’ noted Micho.

Training continues on Thursday morning.

The 26 players in camp at Njeru:

Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C), Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C), Watenga Ismail (Vipers FC)

Defenders: OKot  Denis (KCCA FC), Kasagga Richard (URA FC), Nsubuga Joseph (Bright Stars), Muleme Isaac (SC Villa Jogoo),  Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA FC), Timothy Awany (KCCA), Ochaya Joseph (KCCA FC), Muwanga Bernard (Bright Stars FC),

Midfielders: Ntege Ivan (KCCA FC), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Milton Karisa (BUL), Mutyaba Muzamil (KCCA FC), Miya Faruku (Vipers), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo), Basooma Andrew (Sadolin)

Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Kalanda Frank (URA), Richard Wandyaka (JMC), Okhuti Ceasar (KCCA FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers SC)

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has on Wednesday, 6th January 2016 held a successful media workshop ahead of the CHAN finals in Rwanda.

The workshop was intended to help equip the media on how effectively to cover international tournaments of CHAN’s stature.

FUFA Communications Manager, Ahmed Hussein was one of the three facilitators of the workshop.

Veteran sports editor, Fred Musisi Kiyingi  and Bukedde T.V anchor, Kenneth Muwanga were the others.

The journalists were taken through a number of issues as regards attending press conferences on time, where to seat, how to use gadgets, use of facilities and other aspects related to covering the game with efficiency.

The sports journalists, all accredited to cover the CHAN tournament in Rwanda where the Uganda Cranes will be part were taken through the basics of covering an international tournament.

Kenneth Muwanga took the reporters through the essentials of adequate preparations, thorough precautions and the need to network as a leeway of easing one’s work at the tournament.

The three facilitators also shared their life experiences in as far as covering international tournaments are concerned.

This has been the first of the many planned media workshops and refresher symposiums that FUFA under the administration of Eng. Moses Magogo has outlined with the objective of comprehensive and quality football coverage in the local and international competitions.

Orange CHAN 2016 Championships:

16th January to 7th February 2016

Uganda Cranes Opening Match: Tuesday, 19th January 2016

Match No. 8: Mali Vs Uganda – Umuganda Stadium, Rubavu

NPC limited with full blessing of Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has organized transport means to and from Rwanda when Uganda plays Mali in the opening match on Tuesday, 19th January 2016.

The match will take place at the Umuganda stadium in Rubavu.
According to the chief organizers, Sande Moni and Yusuf Chuni all willing football fans will depart from Kampala on Monday, 18th January 2016 at 11:00 p.m.

Moni told www.fufa.co.ug

We have both means on air and by road.

The bus passengers will leave Kampala on Monday night via Kisoro at a fee of U.shs 150,000 to and from. Passengers need the national Identity Card or a passport as traveling documents.

How to Pay:

Fans willing to travel can book their tickets at Bakuli, Total Petrol Station and at Nakivubo Stadium. For more information, 0701921001 AND 0772424746 (Sande Moni) and 0702439541 and 0782439541 (Ahmed Senyonjo).

Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has named his squad to be joined by three Jinja based players Milton Karisa, Basooma Andrew and Philip Wandyaka for residential camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

The team enters camp on Tuesday evening where they will stay until 17th January when they fly out to Rwanda for the 2016 CHAN Finals.

Uganda is in the same group with Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mali. Cranes opening match is against the West Africans on 19th January.

Two closed door friendlies have been lined up against Gabon on 10th January and three days later against Cameroon at the artificial turf in Njeru.

‘We have carried out a fantastic pre-selection of players that will continue while in Njeru. The training will intensify with sessions in the areas theory practical and tactical’ Micho told www.fufa.co.ug

After Tuesday’s training sessions that involved gym session at Paradise Fitness Centre, Acacia Mall and on the pitch at Kabira country club, Micho released four players Bakaki Shafik, Sadat Kyambadde, Edris Lubega and Nelson Senkatuka.

The 26 players to camp in Njeru:

Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C), Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C), Watenga Ismail (Vipers FC)

Defenders: OKoth Denis (KCCA FC), Kasagga Richard (URA FC), Nsubuga Joseph (Bright Stars), Muleme Isaac (SC Villa Jogoo),  Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA FC), Timothy Awany (KCCA), Ochaya Joseph (KCCA FC), Muwanga Bernard (Bright Stars FC),

Midfielders: Ntege Ivan (KCCA FC), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Milton Karisa (BUL), Mutyaba Muzamil (KCCA FC), Miya Faruku (Vipers), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo), Basooma Andrew (Sadolin)

Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Kalanda Frank (URA), Richard Wandyaka (JMC), Okhuti Ceasar (KCCA FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers SC)

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president, Eng. Moses Magogo believes club football in Uganda is taking the right course of professionalism.

The president noted about this during the media and partnership luncheon for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) football club held on Monday at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

FUFA is committed to seeing club football take the right direction because it is one of the 11 pillars of football development.

In line with our target of Cameroon 2019, club football is key and i am glad to be president of football at a time when KCCA F.C and other clubs are gearing towards attaining professionalism.

Attended by the KCCA Executive director, Jenifer Semakula Musisi, FSL board chairman, Arinaitwe Rugendo and some of his committee members, FUFA Executive committee member, Dennis Mbidde, KCCA F.C executive members, some club fans and the media, the luncheon was also a plat-form for the club to engage the media and all their partners and sponsors.

Musisi once again reinstated KCCA’s commitment to support the football club at all times.

“KCCA has core values of client care, integrity, team work and excellence. We are committed to attaining all these including sporting successes. KCCA as an authority is ready to help the club at all times” she said.

Club Chairman, Julius Kabugo appreciated FUFA for initiating the U-17 national league and took the audience  through the achievements of 2015.

“We thank FUFA for starting the U-17 national league. We have reaped instantly from it because we have promoted two talented players – Julius Poloto and Edward Kikonyogo from the Junior team” Kabugo stated.

At the same function, KCCA F.C officially announced Uganda Cranes players Denis Okot Oola and Joseph Ochaya as the new respective captains and vice captains respectively.

The club also unveiled yet another sponsor, Prime Media network who will work with the club for a period of three years.

The audience was also shown the artistic impression of the new KCCA Stadium with media seats, parking yard and playing surface upon completion.

Uganda Revenue Authority Football Club picked up a convincing 3-1 win over home side JKU FC on Monday afternoon in their opening match of the 2016 Mapinduzi Cup played at Amaani Stadium in Zanzibar.

URA’s goals were scored by Oscar Agaba in the 12thminute while Oromchan Villa netted a brace during the match.

URA FC are using the tournament to keep their players in top notch fitness levels as the Azam Uganda Premier League is on recess until February but are also eying the big cash prizes always staked by the organisers of Mapinduzi Cup.

Nasser Jumascoredfor JKU which was a leveler for Agaba’s opening goal of the tie.

URA will return to action on Wednesday against Tanzanian giants Simba

URA’s Starting XI: Brian Bwete (GK), Massa Simeon, Munaaba Allan, Senkoomi Samuel, Agaba Oscar, Saidi Kyeyune, Kulaba Jimmy, Semakula Noah, Oromchan Villa, Elkanah Nkugwa, Ronald Kigongo.

URA’s substitutions: Lwasa Peter for Semakula Noah,  Kagimu Shafik in for Kigongo Ronald, Sekitto Samuel for Elkanah Nkugwa while Ntambi Julius and Othieno Deol came in for Massa Simeon and Kulaba Jimmy respectively.

Uganda Cranes detailed training programme for 2016 CHAN Finals
• Day one – 2nd January Saturday: Trained at African Bible University (Started at 9am)
• 3rd January Sunday: Trained at Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku
• 4th Monday: Held Gym work session at Acacia Mall, 10 am and trained at Kampala International School of Uganda, Bukoto. 
• 5th Tuesday: Gym work at Acacia Mall, 10 am, enter camp at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru
• 10th Sunday: Uganda vs Gabon, FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru (closed door match)
• 13th Wednesday: Uganda vs Cameroon, FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru (closed door match)

Day three training of the Uganda Cranes preparations for the CHAN championship has been held at Paradise Fitness Center at Acacia Mall and Kampala International School, Kamwokya.

As days for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) draw closer, the Uganda Cranes has intensified preparations for the finals in Rwanda.

On Monday morning, the team embarked on physical fitness of the players with a gym session at Paradise Fitness Center, Acacia Mall.

‘The gym session helps the players to be effective and prevent future injuries’ said Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.

After gym work the team headed to Kampala International School of Uganda for field training in Bukoto.

Twenty Seven players attended today’s training session inclusive of the five who joined today.

The players who joined today are; Ismael Watenga (GK) (Vipers), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers ), Bernard Muwanga (Bright Stars), Richard Kasagga Juuko (URA ) and Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA).

Other players who will join the team on Tuesday morning are; Faruku Miya (Vipers SC), Caesar Okhuti (KCCA FC), Ivan Ntege (KCCA), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA FC) and Denis Okot (KCCA).

They will replace Waibi Yaseri (SC Villa Jogoo), Kiyemba Ibrahim (Lweza FC), Musinguzi Timothy (Soana FC) and Ndugwa Karim (SC Villa Jogoo ) who were released after Monday’s training session.

Micho will hold another training session at the Gym and on the pitch in Kampala before taking his players for residential camp in Njeru at the FUFA Technical centre to acclimatize with the artificial turf that will see Uganda Cranes plays all its group stage matches in Rubavu on the similar surface.

Meanwhile players from Jinja based clubs summoned for training will join the rest of the team in Njeru.

Uganda Cranes head coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic remains impressed by the level of commitment exhibited by the players in the opening two days of training.

I am personally impressed by the level of commitment by all the players in the first two days of training. We shall continue with the sessions and i believe the players will keep the focus

The Cranes have now trained for two days ahead of the CHAN championship that will take place in Rwanda starting on the 16th January 2016.

Uganda Cranes detailed training programme for 2016 CHAN Finals:

• Day one – 2nd January Saturday:  Training at African Bible University (Started at 9am)
• 3rd January Sunday: Training at Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku
  
• 4th Monday: Gym work at Acacia Mall, 10 a.m
• 5th Tuesday: Gym work at Acacia Mall, 10 a.m, enter camp at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru
  
• 10th Sunday: Uganda vs Gabon, FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru
• 13th Wednesday: Uganda vs Cameroon, FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru

Uganda Cranes detailed training programme for 2016 CHAN Finals:

• Day one – 2nd January Saturday:  Training at African Bible University (Started at 9am)
• 3rd January Sunday: Training at Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku
  
• 4th Monday: Gym work at Acacia Mall, 10 a.m
• 5th Tuesday: Gym work at Acacia Mall, 10 a.m, enter camp at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru
  
• 10th Sunday: Uganda vs Gabon, FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru
• 13th Wednesday: Uganda vs Cameroon, FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru

Day two training of the Uganda Cranes preparations for the CHAN championship was held on Sunday at the Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

Twenty five players turned up for training including Bright Stars Football Club goal keeper, Mathias Kigonya.

The Squad will resume training on Monday morning for gym session at Acacia Mall at 10am.

They will be joined by 6 players are; Ismail Watenga (Vipers), Denis Okoth (KCCA), Richard Kasaga (URA), Bernard Muwanga (Bright Stars), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers) and Mutayba Muzamiru (KCCA).

The training session on Tuesday 5th January will see Micho welcome captain Faruku Miya (Vipers), Ochaya Joseph (KCCA), Ivan Ntege (KCCA) and Okhuti (Express FC) from which he will name a 23 man squad to be joined by players from Jinja based clubs to enter residential camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

The players who attended training:

Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C) and Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C)

Defenders: Nsubuga Joseph (Bright Stars), Bukenya Deus (Vipers), Muleme Isaac (SC Villa Jogoo), Waibi Yeseri (SC Villa Jogoo),  Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA), Shafik Bakaki (Vipers), Ibrahim Kiyemba (Lweza), Sadat Kyambadde (Police), Timothy Musinguzi (Soana), Timothy Awany (KCCA)

Midfielders: Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Rahmat Senfuka (Police), Francis Olaki (Soana), Milton Karisa (BUL), Faruku Kawooya (SCVU), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo)

Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Kalanda Frank (URA), Ndugwa Karim (SC Villa Jogoo), Edris Lubega (Proline) Nelson Senkatuka (KCCA), Richard Wandyaka (JMC)

St Mary’s 1-0 Kyambogo

Goal: Mohamood Hassan Moodu
Nabweru based side St Mary’s FC edged Kyambogo FC 1-0 to lift the Kampala region cup. Defender Mohamood Hassan Moodu scored the solitary goal of the game on 85 minutes from a direct free kick. The match was played at Nabweru sports grounds.

By the 23rd January, 2016 Uganda cup round of 64 is expected to kick off.