After taking charge of the COSAFA bound Uganda Cranes team first training on Tuesday at Lugogo, Police FC tactician Abdallah Mubiru is eager to improve the players’ form who are below required standards according to the tactician.

Mubiru who was appointed by national team head coach Sebastien Desabre is deputized by KCCA FC’s Morley Byekwaso, former Uganda Cranes captain Geoffrey Massa as the team manager and Sadiq Wassa as the goalkeeping coach as they prepare for the 2019 COSAFA Championship in South Africa.

“Players’ fitness levels are a bit below the required standards which is understandable as they are coming from a break after the league ending a fortnight back,” Mubiru said on Tuesday before adding.

“Our main target is to utilize the little time we have to transform this team into the shape we want it to be in, I am sure we are working with the best group of players who can deliver because their morale and the response are positive,” he added.

About the game strategy he is going to use in the forthcoming tournament, the renowned football teacher believes in transitional play just like all the teams he has been on.

“We shall approach every game according to the opponent, but the one we are working on right now is build up play from defence and then counter-attacking football,” he noted.

The team will also have a warm up game against their counterparts against preparing for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday.

A regional tour has also been lineup for them against the a Western Region select side on Saturday May 18th, Mubiru believes the games will help him notice the areas that need more attention and focus in the team before they leave for South Africa.

Uganda Cranes will begin their COSAFA journey in the quarterfinals against Lesotho at the Princess Magogo Stadium in the tournament scheduled for 25th May to 8th June.