Uganda National Beach Soccer team, the Sand Cranes will on Sunday battle Tanzania in the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations – COSAFA Beach Soccer Tournament in Durban, South Africa.
Uganda is in Pool B alongside CECAFA Counterparts Tanzania, Egypt, and Mauritius. The tournament attracted eight teams. Group A has Mozambique, Senegal, and Seychelles and hosts South Africa. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-final.
The sand Cranes will open the tournament with Tanzania before playing Mauritius and Egypt. Coach Schirinzi’s side will need to keep their spirits high if they are to defeat Tanzania, which won silver in the previous COSAFA tournament.
After spending a couple of time under intense training at FFA Technical center in Njeru, the fourteen (14) men’s squad departed for South Africa yesterday to have a two-day acclimatization time before kick-off.
Before setting off, the squad was boosted by the appointment of Switzerland tactician Angelo Schirinzi who handled the last four training sessions and finally named the traveling squad. He said he picked the best squad after spending four days conducting the team’s training sessions and he expects an impeccable performance in South Africa.
Sand Cranes Forward Shaka Ssozi equally believes that the team has spent enough time preparing for the tournament in South Africa and believes his teammates will have a good play.
Uganda is using the COSAFA tournament to prepare for the 2022 Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations. The Sand Cranes are hoping to improve on their fourth-place finish in the previous championship when they lost to Mozambique in the semifinals and Morocco in the playoffs.
The team in South Africa has goalkeepers including Samson Kirya, Meddie Kibirige, and Ronald Mutebi. Defenders include Jonathan Kikonyogo, Allan Katwe, Ashraf Apuuli, Isma Kawawulo, Peter Mukwata while forwards include Baker Lukoya, Ambrose Kigozi, Joshua Lubwama, Shaka Ssozi, Godfrey Lwesibawa, and Brian Nkuubi.URN
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
