The U-17 national football team, christened the Uganda Cubs, have jetted out of the country to further their preparations for the African Cup of Nations U-17 final tournament in Tanzania.
A 33-man delegation headed by Fufa second Vice president Darius Mugoye, including 23 players and 10 officials left Entebbe Airport in the wee hours of Friday aboard Turkish Airlines.
The Uganda Cubs qualified for the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over Ethiopia in the final of the Central East Zone qualifying tournament, thanks to goals from Samson Kasozi and Abdu Wahab’s double.
The CAF organised tournament will be hosted by neighbours Tanzania between April 12 to 26 in Dar es Salaam.with the top four teams at the 2019 tournament will qualifying for the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Peru in October next year.
After weeks of rigorous and intensive training at Jinja based Njeru Technical Centre, the Cubs arrived in Antalya in Turkey where they will play in a series of invitational friendly games against Cameroon, Morrocco and Belarus as they continue on their preparations for the tournament.
In Njeru, the Cubs featured in two build up games which they won 3-1 and 2-1 against Jinja SS School team and Football for Good respectively.
But head coach Jackson Mugera focused on the various dynamics and trends of the game like scoring, attacking and defending in numbers, wing play, intensity and mobility, transitional play, set piece situations, endurance and diagonal balls.
Fixtures (Uganda Cubs)
Monday 4.3.2019- Cameroon Vs Uganda
Wednesday 6.3.2019-Uganda Vs Morocco
Friday 8.3.2019-Uganda Vs Belarus
The squad of 23 players traveling to Turkey
Goalkeepers:
Jack Komakech (Ndejje University FC), Oyo Delton (Kirinya Jinja SS FC), Ssemwogerere Daniel (Bright Stars FC)
Rest of the Squad: Asaba Ivan (Vipers SC), Ekellot Ibrahim (KCCA FC), Ibrahim Juma (KCCA FC), Jarieko James (Paidha Black Angels FC), John Kokas Alou (URA FC), John Rogers (Onduparaka FC), Kakaire Thomas (Bright Stars FC), Kakande Shafic (Bright Stars FC), Kasozi Samson (Bright Stars FC), Kevin Ssekimbegga (Express FC), Kiddawalime Soul (Super Cubs), Kizito Mugweri Gavin (Vipers SC), Mugisha Rogers (Mbarara City FC), Mugulusi Isma (Kirinya Jinja SS FC), Mwaka Polycarp (Kirinya Jinja SS FC), Opaala Edwine Mukisa (Kirinya Jinja SS FC), Ssekajja Davis (Bright Stars FC), Wasswanga Shafik (Ndejje University FC), Yasin Abdu Owane (Vipers SC), Ziraba Ronnie (Express FC)
Team officials:
Mugoye Darius (Leader of Delegation),
Magera Jackson (1st Assistant coach)
Hamuza Lutalo (2nd Assistant coach)
Mubarak Kiberu (Goalkeeper coach)
Emmanuel Nakabago (Team Doctor)
Bashir Mutyaba (Team Manager)
Nalunga Sharon (FUFA Secretariat)
Omaria Bosco (Team Media Officer)
Mulekeezi Reagan (102.1 FUFA fm)
Bumpenje Frank (Kits officer)
