Prior to coach Micho Sredojevic’s second stint in East Africa, Uganda Cranes struggled to put in decent shifts away from home in the Africa Cup of Nations, Chan or Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
While Namboole Stadium had become a den for the Cranes, they easily gave away points from Kampala. At some point, Uganda had just one away win in Afcon or World Cup qualifiers - the 2-1 win over Malawi on July 15, 2000 in Blantyre not until the Cranes beat Guinea Bissau 1-0 during 2012 Afcon route in March 2011. The away form has vastly improved ever since Micho got the Cranes’ tactical mantle in 2013.The 1-0 opening Afcon 2019 Qualifier victory away at Cape Verde meant Uganda has won nine competitive outings away under Micho. “It is a result of the hard work we put in and preparations before travelling,” Micho told this website in a recent interview. Last year, Uganda qualified for the first Afcon since 1978 after winning two matches away in Comoros and Botswana in the campaign, also happening for the first time. It is this tidy record that Cranes want to keep when they begin their quest for a 2018 Chan slot with a qualifier first-leg tie away against South Sudan on Friday.
Juba Stadium will be the centre of attraction as South Sudan, who eliminated Somalia 4-1 on aggregate in the first round, seeks an elusive triumph over Uganda. Cranes, who have earned their Chan opportunity three times on the bounce, have a new captain in striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma and he hopes to drive the nation forward. “I thank God for this because I have been at the team where younger players came and wore the armband. It is my time now to lead the team but the coach knows why he selected me,” Sserunkuma said via the Fufa website.
He got the armband having scored 21 goals as KCCA retained the Azam Uganda Premier League title last season. Sserunkuma, formerly of Lweza FC, also had five goals in the Caf Club competitions, fours in the Uganda Cup and also netted in the Fufa Super Cup. The humble lad impressed Micho when he came off the bench to score the winner against Cape Verde in Praia last month. It is this form that the nation will hope delivers a vital away goal or even victory.
Further, a recent two-week camp is something that Micho believes will deliver the top prize in Juba before the return leg at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo next week. Cranes departed on Thursday with 18 players after Betway-sponsored Onduparaka duo Rashid Toha and Muhammad Shaban departed for trials at South African side SuperSport United. However, Micho is likely to name Ismael Watenga in goal, with Vipers’ teammate Nicholas Wadada, Bernard Muwanga, Timothy Awany and Paul Musamali in defence.
Then Deus Bukenya, Muzamiru Mutyaba and Isaac Muleme will be tasked with the midfield. The trio of Sserunkuma, Derrick Nsibambi and Milton Karisa will start up front. South Sudan’s man to watch is James Moga who scored twice against Somalia in Juba and Mogadishu. The winner over both legs here faces the victor between Tanzania and Rwanda thereby earning at ticket to the 2018 finals set to be held in Kenya.
2018 CHAN QUALIFIERS
CENTRAL - EAST ZONE
FRIDAY, JULY 14
South Sudan vs. Uganda, Juba
Referee: Idris Mehammed Osman (Eritrea)
SATURDAY, JULY 15
Tanzania vs. Rwanda, Mwanza
Referee: Alier Michael James (South Sudan)
UGANDA CRANES SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga, Ken Saidi
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada, Timothy Awanyi, Bernard Muwanga, Savio Kabugo, Paul Musamali and John Adiriko.
Midfielders: Deus Bukenya, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Tom Masiko, Isaac Muleme, Brian Majwega, Shafiq Kagimu.
Strikers: Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Paul Mucureezi, Derrick Nsibambi, Milton Karisa.
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala, Uganda. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune