Uganda Cranes will face West African island country, São Tomé and Príncipe at the National Stadium, Namboole today evening (4:45 pm) in the first of two friendly matches to be hosted by Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) during this busy International break.
The Uganda Cranes players who converged at Ivy’s Hotel in Wakaliga started training on Wednesday.
Since then, the team has been engaged in double sessions decimated by gym drills and field work outs.
The today’s up-coming match comes less than three months since the French coach Sebastian Desabre took on the mantle for the Uganda Cranes.
This will be his first home game having managed the Cranes at the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco early this year.
Addressing the media in the post-training interview at Namboole on Friday evening, Desabre confirmed as this is the only opportunity to assess the level of players display and competitive approach towards the game.
“This is my first time with the senior team and I want to use these two forthcoming friendly matches to know the ability of each player ahead of African Cup of Nation’s Qualifier games against Tanzania and Lesotho later this year,”
On discipline of players coach Desabre was quick to appreciate the players as they have lived to the expectation for this smallest time they have been together but he emphasized that discipline cannot do that match if we don’t win games.
“We want that professional touch in the team but should come along with good results on the pitch. I am a coach who at a later stage be assessed on results at pitch,”
Uganda hosts São Tomé and Príncipe today at Mandela National Stadium before playing Malawi three days later at same venue.
São Tomé and Príncipe arrived in Uganda on Friday night.
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