New Uganda Cranes coach Sebastien Desabre spent less than a week in the country before he flew out with the team for the Africa Nations Championships (Chan) assignment.
For a man unveiled only 100 hours before the New Year’s Day, Desabre has not had much time to acclimatize with the crop of players before departure to Morocco on Wednesday afternoon.
“It was short time for me to evaluate the players,” revealed the Frenchman, formerly at Egyptian club Ismaily.
With support from his assistant Matia Lule and goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba, Desabre took 25 players to North Africa after dropping Godfrey Lwesibawa and Daniel Isiagi.
But again, a pair is set to be dropped after friendlies with Congo Brazzaville and Guinea.
“We took preference for defensive and offensive. Those not selected will be followed at their clubs during the Championship (League).
We need to focus on those going to camp so that we work on our targets before the first game against Zambia.” added the man who has spent now a decade in Africa coaching football.
But confronts tough history as the Cranes have never made it out of the Chan group stages even if this is the side’s fourth successive appearance.
In Morocco, Uganda is placed in Group B alongside Zambia, Ivory Coast and Namibia.
Desabre, who is the third different coach for the Cranes at the Chan tournaments since 2011 Sudan, insists they can go far in the showpiece staged for only home-based players.
PLAYERS TO MOROCCO
Goalkeepers: Ismail Watenga, Benjamin Ochan, Saidi Keni
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Nsubuga, Timothy Awanyi, Mustapha Mujuzi, Bernard Muwanga, Isaac Muleme, Aggrey Madoi, Mustapha Kizza
Midfielders: Milton Karisa, Paul Mucurezi, Allan Kyambadde, Seif Batte, Rahmat Senfuka, Taddeo Lwanga, Abubaker Kasule, Moses Waiswa, Sadam Juma, Muzamir Mutyaba, Tom Masiko
Forwards: Muhammad Shaban, Derrick Nsibambi, Nelson Senkatuka
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune