Bagoole (bending on the first row from the left) has landed an invitation to Cranes to join APR teammates Dan Wagaluka (right) and Habib Kavuma (standing at the behind row)
It’s now officially confirmed that Cranes Midfielder and Al Merreikh player Mike Mutyaba is out and APR’s Johnson Bagoole is invited for the Cranes preparations a head of the crucial World Cup qualifiers game against Angola in Luanda on June 3.
Reports emerging from Khartoum City indicate that Mutyaba sustained an injury that denies him a chance to play for his nation. Other sources are however skeptical in believing this information following the February experience.
Al-Merreikh gave similar explanations about Mutyaba during an international friendly match against Egypt in Sudan on February 24 but reportedly fielded him in their match just days after Uganda had lost 2-1 to the Pharaohs.
Head Coach Bobby Williamson has opted to summon Bagoole since Tonny Mawejje is also expected to join the team late around May 30. Former Sofapaka FC midfielder Mudde Musa is also out of the game due to an injury.
By the time of writing this statement, the federation was still making all possible attempts to reach Bagoole but in vain. We are continuing doing so and we have also deployed contact persons in Kigali to trace him. Sweden based AIK FC player Martin Kayongo Mutumba arrives on Sunday to beef up the midfield department.
Meanwhile Bobby has given the Cranes players a one day break this Saturday after five days of intensified practice. Training sessions resume on Sunday morning.
L-R: Denis Guma, Geoffrey Massa and Cranes Captain Andrew Mwesigwa. Massa has been ruled out of the Angola game due to an injury
The Cranes camp encountered a big setback Wednesday morning when striker Geoffrey Massa got ruled out of the crucial Angola game due to an injury.
In a related development, former Sofapaka midfielder Musa Mudde did not also train with the rest of the team following a knock with another player.
Speaking to the media Coach Bobby Williamson said Massa had earlier showed a sign of pain around the ankle, an indication that he had carried this injury from Cyprus where he plays professional football. Massa’s situation worsened after the Tuesday training.
Bobby however sounded confident of finding a possible replacement from the available strikers to fill the gap created by the injured Massa.
The summoned strikers on the list include Fabian Kizito, Robert Ssentongo, Emmanuel Okwi, Brian Umonyi and Ceaser Okhuti. Okwi joined the team toady morning while Bunamwaya’s Okhuti displayed a tremendous form in today’s training.
Meanwhile Hassan Wasswa is expected to fly back to Turkey to sign a new contract with his club, Kayseri Erciyesspor. He returns on Sunday.
The camp will be boosted tomorrow with an anticipated arrival of Al-Merreikh player Mike Mutyaba.
The Cranes fans will use one ticket for both Senegal and Congo match
The two Cranes’ home matches against Senegal and Congo Brazzaville will be watched by our fans using one joint entry ticket.
Each ticket will cost Shs.25.000 and Shs.80.000 for the open stands and the pavilion respectively. Arrangements have already been made with our foreign based printers to have two separate coupons on the same ticket clearly indicated for use during each of the two games.
The tickets will go on market at least three days before we play Senegal on June 9. Uganda plays Congo Brazzaville on June 16. The new arrangement is intended to save our fans from double transport expenses in securing two separate tickets. We are aware that a good section of our fans trek long distances from upcountry to buy tickets from Kampala.
But even those within the city centre and around the suburbs take many risks in queuing for tickets from the gazetted selling points. Tickets will be on sale from thirteen identified points that include Hard Ware World Ntinda, all the four City Oil Petrol stations at Bakuli, Nakawa, Bombo road and Martin Road near the Old Kampala Mosque.
Other points are Shell Capital, Shell Kireka, Shell Ben Kiwanuka Street, Kobil Kasubi, Kobil Kawempe, Total Kireka, Total City Centre opposite Uganda House and City Shoppers Super Market in Mukono Municipality.
Establishing more selling points across the country would have been an option but it still goes with a big cost and very difficult to be monitored by our marketing team. FUFA warns the selected selling stations against hoarding tickets and selling them on black markets. We shall not hesitate to withdraw our mandate incase of such acts that frustrate our fans.
Young Cranes striker Fabian Derrick Kizito believes his invitation to the Cranes National team is a great opportunity for him to show cause for more invitations on the same squad in future.
The striker who netted Uganda’s only goal against Egypt in an international friendly played from Khartoum City in February has also promised a serious hunt for goals when given an opportunity to play.
Speaking to fufa.com on Tuesday after the training session at Mandela National stadium Fabian said, ‘I am aware that Uganda`s long time problem has been lack of goals but this time round I am here to offer a service”
He added, “ I want to create an impact on the team, that’s why when I was invited for the friendly game against Egypt I made sure I score to be part and partial of the Cranes Success this time”, said Fabian who plays professional football in Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Partrick Ochan who turns out for TP Mazembe of DR Congo was the only professional lad who joined the squad today. Two local based players Denis Guma of Victoria University and Ceaser Okhuti for Bunamwaya were also in the camp today. The rest of the local based players will join the team tomorrow after their League games today.
Coach Bobby Williamson said the absence of the local players will not affect his squad as it has given him chance to access the fitness levels of the professional players who have taken time without competitive football.
Goalie Omony Posnet (left) is rulled out due to injury while Denis Onyango (right) will be joining the camp soon
Cranes head coach Robert ‘Bobby’ Williamson conducted his first training session this Monday morning with 16 players at his disposal.
Among these were nine pros that included Dan Wagaluka, Geoffrey Massa, Joseph Owino, Hassan Waswa, Mike Sserumaga, Kizito Fabian Derrick, Isaac Isinde, Sula Matovu and Habib Kavuma. The team will undergo a non residential training for three days before entering a residential camp.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Posnet Omony has for a while been ruled out of this campaign on grounds that he is injured and unfit. “I really appreciate and honour your decision on recalling me to the National team. However, I will not be able to attend for now as I have to finalize my recovery and rehabilitation on my injury before we resume preparations for CAF and the league matches respectively”, reads part of an sms message Omony sent to Bobby.
Omony was one of the four goalkeepers Coach Bobby had selected for this campaign with Denis Onyango, Abel Dhaira and Hamza Muwonge being the other choices. Onyango and Dhaira are not yet in the country. The technical committee has therefore invited Proline’s Yasin Mugabi and Ali Kimera (Victors) to beef up the goalkeeping department.
Omony has however promised to serve his nation next time when he regains his fitness levels and wished Uganda well in the campaign. “I wish you well in the campaign and I shall be available anytime for the nation once I am 100% fit again”, further writes Omony.
The South African-based shot-stopper, featuring for Black Leopards FC, sustained an injury while playing against DRC’s St Eloi Lupopo in a CAF match. The last time Omony featured for the Cranes side was about three years ago when Uganda edged Benin 2-1 in 2008 in Nambole.
Uganda opens their 2012 World Cup qualifiers against Angola in Luanda on June 3 before taking on Senegal in Kampala only six days later.
Okwi mourns friend.Says he will in Kampala by Sunday for Cranes duty
“He has been a very, very good friend of mine and for sure, I don’t believe he is really dead”, is what cranes Striker Emmanuel Okwi said on phone from Dar es salaam when asked to comment on the relationship that existed between him and Patrick Mafisango.
Okwi was however quick to mention that the pass on of his good friend would not affect his preparations for the Cranes match against Angola on June 3 in Luanda City. “So is life, Mafisango is gone, but the rest of us will carry on with the task as long as we continue to live. Tell my fans in Uganda that I shall be in Kampala by Sunday ready for duty”, he said.
He referred to Mafisango as having been an influential player for Simba Sports Club who usually scored crucial goals for his club. The last time the two players featured for their club was over a week ago when they lost 3-0 to Al Shandy in Khartoum. The hosts had also lost on the same margin in Dar es Salaam but Simba SC got eliminated from the continental cup 9-8 on spot kicks.
Cranes Head coach Bobby Williamson has described Bryan Wabalayi Massa as a ‘skilled young star’ whose exclusion on the squad he named on Wednesday should not be misinterpreted as being an unwanted player.
Speaking to journalists at the federation headquarters on Wednesday, Bobby said he had watched Massa playing and appreciated his effort but needed time to play more games at home before he is invited for such crucial games involving widely experienced players on the continent.
“We don’t need to rush him and I assure you, he will be very vital for the team in the future”, Bobby explained. The Scott tactician was recently in Stockholm to monitor the performances of Massa and Martin Kayongo Mutumba. On return, Bobby cleared the federation to proceed with the process of securing a Ugandan Passport for Massa.
Bobby did not however rule out the possibility of more changes on the squad as need arises. “We cannot have everybody on the squad but we can effect a change where there is need”, he said.
Massa had no club until February when he joined Vasalund FC, a third Division club in Sweden.
Kampala had this morning woken up to sad news involving an alleged death of Cranes key player Emmanuel Okwi but the federation has since verified the information to have been untrue.
Safe: Emmanuel OkwiDead: Patrick Mafisango
It’s however true that Okwi’s close friend and housemate Patrick Mafisango Mutesa died in an accident around 4:00am this Thursday morning. Mafisango, a Rwandese international player and Okwi both play for Simba SC in Tanzania. The two usually move together, a practice that had thrown Dar es salaam City in a big panic anticipating the duo to have been in the same car at a time of the accident.
Okwi and the deceased reside on the same apartment at Temehe-Changombe in Dar es salaam City. Derrick Walulya another Ugandan international stays around the same place.
Simba SC information officer, Ezekiel Kamuwanda has confirmed Mafisango’s death. “His car swerved off the road as he attempted to dodge a boda-boda cyclist a few kilometers to his home and he died on the way to hospital” Kamuwanda said. He added, “Emmanuel Okwi is safe. They never travelled traveled together this time”.
Details emerging from Dar es salaam City indicate that Mafisango had spent a night at Maisha club and was driving back home before met death. He died on the way to Muhimbiri Government Hospital. Other sources allege that there was a survivor in the car whose identities could not however be revealed by the time of issuing this statement. Mafisango has been an influential midfielder for both Simba SC and Rwanda National team, Amavubi. He was slated to fly to Kigali this Thursday afternoon to start preparations for their world cup qualifiers match.
June 3: Angola Vs Uganda, June 9: Uganda Vs Senegal June 16: Ugnada Vs Congo
Invited: Posnet Omony
Cranes head coach Bobby Robert Williamson has this Wednesday morning named his squad a head of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers match against Angola in Luanda on June 3.
The 30-man squad comprises 22 professional players and 8 home based lads. Goal Keeper Posnet Richard Omony who features for Black Leopards FC in South Africa has landed an invitation after a long time of absence on the list. Commenting about the development, Bobby said invitations were based on individual performances and that Omony had been very active of recent hence an invitation.
Joseph Owino of Azan FC in Tanzania is also one of the eleven defenders on the list. The available players on the squad start training on Monday May 21 at Mandela National stadium, Namboole.
The full squad has Omony Posnet Richard (Black Leopards), Onyango Denis (Mamelodi Sundown), Dhaira Abel (IBV Vestmannaeyjar), and Hamza Muwonge (Bunamwaya) goal keepers.
The defenders include Massa Simeon (URA), Iguma Denis (Victoria University), Isinde Isaac (St. George-Ethiopia), Kalungi Henry (Richmond kickers-USA), Walusimbi Godfrey (Bunamwaya), Wasswa Hassan (Kayseri Erciyesspor-Turkey), Ochaya Joseph (KCC), Kavuma Habib (APR-Rwanda), Ssali Edward (Bunamwaya), Joseph Owino (Azam-Tanzania) and team Captain Andrew Mwesigwa (Ordabasy FC- Kazahastan).
The midfielders’ set has Sserumaga Mike (St. George-Ethiopia), Mawejje Tonny (IBV-Iceland), Mudde Musa (Sofapaka-Kenya), Ochan Patrick (TP-Mazembe-DRC), Kayongo Martin (AIK-Sweden), Wagaluka Dan (APR-Rwanda), Oloya Moses (Sai Gon Xuah Thanh-Vietnam) and Matovu Sula (St. George-Ethiopia).
The striking department has Okwi Emmanuel (Simba-Tanzania), Kizito Fabian Derrick (Leonidas-Netherlands), Umony Brian (Becamex Binh Duong-Vietnam), Massa Geoffrey (Nicosia Kapia (Cyprus), Okhuti Ceaser (Bunamwaya), Mutyaba Mike (Al Merreikh-Sudan) and Ssentongo Robert (URA).
Minister Charles Bakabulindi has rubbished the Kwizera federation branding ot circus
Education and sports State minister Charles Bakabulindi burst out laughing when told of a new body fronting itself as the legitimate local soccer governing body.
“I have heard of that group. They are not serious. It is a circus. It is time people got serious and stopped mixing theatre with serious football”.
The group headed by Godfrey Kwizera on Friday last week launched a parallel federation. Former FUFA Vice president Polly Ouma was also named head coach of the said federation with a duty of releasing a squad for the group’s international calendar. At their launch, Kwizera reportedly said his group would mainly deal with foreign based players.
FIFA, the international football governing body recognizes the current federation headed by Lawrence Mulindwa as the legitimate federation in Uganda. In 2010 FIFA directed the national body to take action on the same group.
The disgruntled group has Godfrey Kwizera, former player Dan Walusimbi and Polly Ouma as its key players. In 2009, Kwizera showed interest to contest for the elections of the FUFA president but he could not even reach out to ten out of over 80 recognized districts. He also failed to show up at the election venue.
Surprisingly, the next elections are just one year away but instead of getting down to the grassroots to canvass for support if his group is really serious, they are only staging comedy day in, day out! (This piece ran in the Sunday Vision News paper of May 6 with James Bakama as its author but the original story has slightly been edited for our web site).
Uganda U20 National team, the Hippos out smarted visiting counterparts from Mozambique walloping them 4-0 in the first leg of the Africa U20 youth championship played in Kampala on Saturday.
Yayo Lutimba (Express FC) scored the fastest goal in his football career that came only 30 seconds after kick off to send the youthful home boys into wild celebrations. Ssekisambu Erisa who also features for Express FC netted twice before William Wadri (Proline FC) sealed the deal nine minutes to break time.
Mozambique looked disunited throughout the first half but the Germany coach Angels Gert Josef seem to have taken note of their mistakes, corrected them and his side returned to pitch a better side for the second half. The last 45 minutes yielded no goal for either side.
“We needed a win and we have it. We shall base our next plans from there” said a visibly excited assistant coach Abdallah Mubiru shortly after the game. Uganda travels to Mozambique in two weeks time and when they advance to the next round, they play Ghana.
For the Mozambican coach, Angels Gert, Ugandans should not celebrate yet. He has promised a tougher game in Maputo. “It’s a big loss but such results can still be reversed. Uganda has been a better side at home and we can still be better in Maputo” vowed Gert.
The Hippos (U20) National team takes on Mozambique this Saturday in their first leg match of the Africa U20 Youth Championship. The game to be played at Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium will be officiated by referees from Seychelles with Mr. Nkubitho Athanase from Rwanda as the Match Commissioner.
The Centre Referee is Camille Bernard assisted by Petrousse H. Danny and Lista Gilbert as first and second assistants respectively. CAF has also appointed Labrosse Clauda Jean as the reserve referee with Uganda’s Ronnie Kalema serving as the Guide Referee. All Match officials are accommodated at Hotel Africana.
Meanwhile the Mozambican 24-man delegation touched Entebbe International Airport last evening. They are camped at Sky Hotel in Ntinda. The team German born Head Coach Angels Gert Josef said only one of their players remained behind but expected to join the rest of the team at 07:05pm this Friday. The visiting team will train at Nakivubo stadium at 4:00pm today. The delegation is led by Esculudes Nichola, a member of their FA executive committee.
The entry fees remain at Shs.5000 and 10.000 for open/covered stands and the pavilion respectively. Secondary and Primary school uniformed students with badges on their shirts or dresses will access the stadium freely. Possession of a valid school identity card will be an added advantage.
Fabian Kizito Derrick kept a keen eye on the ball and made brilliant movements on the pitch till his efforts yielded results for Uganda in the 35 minute. He moved faster to intercept a short back pass defender Hossam Ghaly made for goalie, Essam Elhaddry within the goal area and left the Egyptian elderly goalkeeper crawling as he sent the ball in the far left corner of the net.
Elhaddry’s turn ended immediately after this score as he complained of a waist injury and got substituted by Ahamed El Shenawy. Kizito was making his first appearance on the Cranes squad and his performance got described by head Coach Bobby Williamson as ‘an impressive start’. His score becomes the first goal the Pharaohs conceded in a stretch of about five months. Egypt who had earlier played Niger, Congo and Kenya without conceding a goal last had a ball behind their net way back in November 2011 against Brazil.
“I am happy that my first time on the Cranes final squad, I have scored. This will encourage me to do better if I am another chance in the future” said a soft spoken Kizito. He added, “I still have a challenge to learn my teammates and for them to get used to my movements. It was painful that we lost that game”. Kizito further revealed that he played with some pain in the back which partly affected him.
The first half ended 1-0 in favour of Uganda with Israel Emuge, Saka Mpima, Edward Ssali and Captain Godfrey Walusimbi doing the donkey work in frustrating the speedy movements by the hosts. In the 55 minute, the Egyptian coach made three well calculated substitutes one after the other that saw Ahamed Temsah’s first touch earning them an equalizer. The Ugandan local based players held Egypt to a 1-all draw until one minute to the end of the game when team captain Mohamed Adoll netted a winner that left goalie Yasin Mugabi well beaten. Mugabi had replaced Hamza Muwonge in the 86 minute.
FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa said the game was a great opportunity for the home based players and pledged more friendly matches before June. The team touched Entebbe International Airport safely Friday afternoon.
Shocking news! Cranes talented young player, Mike Mutyaba has been ruled out of today’s international friendly match against Egypt due to an injury.
Mutyaba who was at Khartoum international airport Tueasday night to receive the Ugandan delegation has disclosed to Head Coach Bobby Williamson the directive by his medical team to keep away from playing for two weeks. Mutyaba plays for Al-Merreikh and sustained this injury while battling Zimbabwe’s FC Platinum in the CAF competitions last weekend. The game ended 2-2 with the Ugandan star scoring the opener in the 18th minute to earn his side a away crucial point.
The team medics had earlier expected the player to return to action shortly but later ruled him out for a fortnight. “I feel bad that I am missing this crucial friendly. It would have been another big opportunity for me to prove my ability before my fans here in Khartoum…..but I wish the Cranes all the best” said a visibly concerned Mutyaba. He gave his comments from Al Salam Rotana Hotel where both the Ugandan and the Egyptian delegations are accomodated.
Mutyaba’s news took the Cranes technical team by surprise but head coach Bobby Williamson said he would find a way of filling that gap. Uganda plays Egypt in a friendly match aimed at identifying players for CHAN and to accord the home boys an international exposure among other set objectives.
The team trained at Khartoum National stadium last evening under floodlight with no injuries registered.
The long awaited Egypt-Uganda international friendly match has finally been confirmed for March 30 in Khartoum City, Sudan. The Cranes team comprising mainly home based players has started training in Nakivubo War Memorial stadium this Saturday morning.
The game had earlier been scheduled for February but called off due to the insecurities in Cairo. Attempts were later made to have the same game played in Qatar but the efforts did not also yield results. Our official match agents, Sports Global Management (SGM) based in Geneva with regional offices in Nairobi have now confirmed to us the new date and venue. The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) will use this international friendly to try some new players based within and outside Uganda.
Among the expected new players on trial are Kizito Fabian Derrick playing in The Netherlands, Ndoro Tonny featuring for Young Africans in Tanzania and Lwanyaga Ronnie Martins who plays for Al-Merreikh in Sudan among others. FUFA is much aware of the seniority of the Egyptian side that has been together for long but the main focus here is to grant our home based players an international exposure as we look forward to the selection of the CHAN team.
The invited players include Kimera Ali, Hamza Muwonge, Denis Guma, Walusimbi Godfrey, Kimuli Robert, Luzige Edgar, Bengo Steven, Ssemakula Noah, Emuge Israel, Mpima Sakka, Omondi Sapeo Ceaser, Kazibwe Ismail, Okhuti Ceaser, Luwagga Kizito, Kirabira Isaac, Saddam Juma, Kizito Fabian, Lwanyaga Ronnie Martins, Ndoro Tonny, Wadada and Kakembo Jimmy.
Al-Merreikh player, Mike Mutyaba will join the team in Khartoum. The URA players have been left out in order to concentrate on their continental campaign.
Bell-Uganda Cup sponsors in conjunction with FUFA will have this year’s finals held upcountry in Pece Stadium, Gulu district on May 12. This will be the first time in the near history to have this function out of Kampala City.
The sponsors and the organizers have already inspected the facilities in Gulu that will host this major event. The first leg of the semi finals is scheduled for April 24 while the return leg goes for the weekend of 28-29 of the same month. The program gives the finalists ample time to prepare for the big clash. The quarter finals have been fixed on April 7-8.
The draws for the round of 16 will be held this Thursday at Ivys Hotel in Wakaliga starting 10am. The clubs that advanced to this round of 16 include two regional teams; Luweero united FC (Buganda) and Kireka United FC of Kampala region. Six others are FUFA Big League clubs some of which trounced Super Division clubs to qualify to this stage. They include Old Timers, Misindye, Jinja Municipality, CRO, Boroboro Tigers and Aurum Roses FC.
Out of the 15 Super Division clubs, only 8 survived humiliation and will play in the next stage. These are Water, Victors, URA, SC Villa, Uganda Police, Masaka LC, Bunamwaya and Maroons.
The long awaited Ugandan – Sweden based player Kayongo Mutumba Martin is in the country to boost up the Cranes’ preparations ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville next week.
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport aboard Ethiopian airlines on Saturday afternoon, Mutumba was received by FUFA Spokesperson, Rogers Mulindwa. “ I am honoured to be called upon to serve my country. I promise to offer my best if given a chance” Mutumba told the press before leaving Entebbe for Kampala. He added, “I plead to whoever is concerned to speed up the process of producing my passport. I shall be disappointed when I don’t play”
He straight away went to the training camp at Mandela National stadium where head coach Bobby Williamson officially introduced him to the newly appointed team captain Andy Mwesigwa and thereafter joined the rest of the team for an afternoon training.
FUFA Head of communications, Rogers Mulindwa said Mutumba will travel with the team this night as the process of securing his Ugandan passport continues. “We are taking 19 players hoping that his passport will be produced on Monday and we fly it to Brazzaville the following day” Mulindwa explained. The match is scheduled for Wednesday.
