Uganda Cranes coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has named 21 Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) players on the provisional squad for the 2017 AFCON finals.
The Serbian named the 40 man squad on Wednesday that constitutes five goalkeepers, two of which play in the domestic league, 12 defenders, 15 midfielders and 8 strikers.
The local based players are goalkeepers Benjamin Ochan and Ismail Watenga of KCCA and Vipers respectively, defenders Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa Jogoo), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Richard Kasagga Jjuuko (URA), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers) and Rashid ‘Mertasacker’ Toha (Onduparaka).
Others are midfielders Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Vipers), Kizito Kezironi (Vipers), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA), Ibrahim Saddam Juma (Express), Paul Mucurezi (KCCA), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa) and Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu (SC Villa) while Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA), Edrisa Lubega (Proline), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers), Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCCA) and Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka) are the local based forwards named on the team.
Speaking after the announcement, Micho who guided the Cranes to the finals after 39 years said.
We selected a blend of experience and youth who are the future of Ugandan football where. Nobody will be gifted and awarded place as from now on the counter is on zero where all 40 players are in healthy competition to earn and deserve to be in the final 23.
Meanwhile, the key names missing on the list include strikers Brian Umony and Emmanuel Okwi who played a part in the team’s qualification.
The Cranes will play against Ghana, Mali and Egypt in group D at the finals.
The AUPL players:
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga (Vipers) and Benjamin Ochan (KCCA)
Defenders: Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa Jogoo), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Richard Kasagga Jjuuko (URA), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers) and Rashid ‘Mertasacker’ Toha (Onduparaka)
Midfielders: Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Vipers), Kizito Kezironi (Vipers), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA), Ibrahim Saddam Juma (Express), Paul Mucurezi (KCCA), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa) and Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu (SC Villa).
Forwards: Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA), Edrisa Lubega (Proline), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers), Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCCA) and Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka).
The Foreign Based Players:
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundown, South Africa), Robert Odongkara (St George, Ethiopia) and Jamal Salim (El Merriekh, Sudan)
Defenders: Ronald Mukiibi (Östersunds FK, Sweden), Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Shafiq Batambuze (Tusker, Kenya), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania) and Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia),
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Baroka, South Africa), Tonny Mawejje (Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur, Iceland), Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids, USA), Geofrey ‘Baba ‘Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Yassar Mugerwa (St George, Ethiopia), Moses Oloya (Kuban Krasnodar, Russia), William Kizito Luwagga (Rio Ave, Portugal), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya),
Strikers: Faruku Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Geofrey Massa (Baroka, South Africa) and Yunus Sentamu (Ilves, Finland)