Melvyn Lorenzen, a British-born footballer, was on Wednesday named in the Uganda Cranes squad to prepare for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana next month.
Born to a Ugandan father Drake Mugisha, and a German mother, Melvyn was summoned with 20 others by Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic at Fufa House in Mengo, a suburb of the capital Kampala.
“The mother was desperate to see the boy play for Germany, but the father and the boy wanted to play for Uganda,” Micho said after announcing the squad.
The 21-year-old and the rest of the summoned footballers are expected to start training next Tuesday ahead of a camp in Zimbabwe, where they will play a friendly against the hosts on May 31. Uganda face Botswana in Gaborone in the Afcon qualifiers on June 4.
Melvyn has just completed his third season at Bremen, where he has managed just 14 appearances and one goal over the said period.
Among others summoned by Micho include Rayon Sport’s Davies Kasirye, who has scored 12 goals in the Rwandan league and Fufa Big League youngster Edrisa Lubega. Lubega has scored 19 goals this season.
Cranes Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyanyo (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Ondongkara (St George, Ethiopia), Salim Jamal Magola (El Merreikh, Sudan)
Defenders: Denis Guma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Al Shorta, Iraq), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda)
Midfielders: Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids), Moses Oloya (Becamex Binh Duong, Vietnam), Aucho Khalid (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Tonny Mawejje (Thottur, Iceland), William Kizito Luwagga (Feirense, Portugal), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
Strikers: Farouk Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Davis Kasirye (Rayon Sports, Rwanda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers, Uganda), Geofrey Massa (Bloemfontein Celtics, South Africa), Emmanuel Okwi (Sondyerske, Denmark), Lorenzen Melvyn (Werder Bremen, Germany)