Uganda Cranes under head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic have started intensive preparations ahead of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament that kicks off on January 16 in Rwanda.

According to the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) website the programme started with a two day non residential training at Nakivubo stadium on Saturday for pre-selection from a 30 man group of players.

“No team has ever succeeded with all players being young. We have a mixture of youth and competitive experience. The experienced players will need to help the young players in the team. We shall still have 70% of U-23 players and 30% of experience in the final 23 man squad for the CHAN finals,” Micho said.

The former Amavubi Stars trainer noted that after CECAFA, many players that were in Ethiopia, have not shown consistence in competitive form and in order to give chance to a wider pool of players to fight for the Uganda Cranes jersey, the pre-selection will bring out the true current form and quality.

The squad will later be reduced by seven players to accommodate another set of 7 players on Monday morning for gym session.

The 7 players are; Ismail Watenga(Vipers), Kigonya Mathias (Bright Stars), Okoth Denis (KCCA), Richard Kasaga (URA), Muwanga Bernard (Bright Stars), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers) and Mutayba Muzamir (KCCA).

At the end of the Monday training session, four more players will be released from camp.

The training session on Tuesday will see Micho welcome captain Faruku Miya (Vipers), Ochaya Joseph (KCCA), Ivan Ntege (KCCA) and Okhuti (Express FC) from which he will name his final 23 man squad to enter residential camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

Micho who will be at the CHAN finals with Uganda Cranes for the second successive time says that, “We have no doubt that our players know how to play football but we want to work very hard and together as this will be the only measurement for getting results.”

Uganda Cranes will camp in Njeru from January 5th-17th before flying to Rwanda for the group D matches against Mali on January 19, Zambia four days later before winding up the group phase against Zimbabwe on January 27 in Rubavu.

Cranes squad:

Goalkeepers: Alitho James (Vipers), Kisembo Douglas (Police FC)

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), Ibrahim Kiiza (Express FC), Sadat Kyambadde (Police), Timothy Musinguzi (Soana), Timothy Awany (KCCA)

Midfielders: Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Rahmat Senfuka (Police), Basoma Andrew (Sadolin), Francis Olaki (Soana), Tony Odour (Express), Milton Karisa (BUL), Mike Ndera (BUL), Faruku Kawooya (SCVU), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo)

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

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com