Cranes’ Sebastien Desabre had one practice match for his side against a Kampala select side on Saturday at StarTimes Lugogo.
Substitute Daniel Muzeyi grabbed a brace, Allan Okello and another substitute Bright Anukani scored the others to give Cranes a 4-0 win against a Kampala Region select side.
Much as that couldn’t give the Frenchman a picture of seven locally-based players for Cranes’ camp in Egypt, Desabre already had his players.
Out of the 30 players in camp, Desabre needed nine for the March 24th Total Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Tanzania in Dar Es Salaam.
Desabre knows his nine already, Timothy Awany, Moses Waiswa, Patrick Kaddu, Allan Kyambadde and Halid Lwaliwa Lwaliwa watched from the stands.
With Hassan Wasswa suspended and Denis Iguma injured, it’s obvious Desabre will need Awany and probably Halid for the tie against Tanzania.
But trusted soldier Mujuzi Mustafa played full time alongside Hassan Wasswa as the Cranes kept a clean sheet in front of a full house.
And without a doubt, Kaddu’s winner against Cape Verde has surely earned him a Cranes place if not start unless otherwise.
Juma Balinya’s half volley was deflected out for a corner after six minutes, it was Cranes’ first opportunity to get the lead.
Another Balinya run down the left almost gave Cranes an opening, Julius Poloto missed the ball with the goalkeeper beaten.
At the hour mark, SC Villa striker Bashir Mutanda was replaced by his Vipers’ counterpart Daniel Muzeyi Sserunkuma.
Balinya made way for Brian Majwega before his impact could be felt, Muzeyi did, with a solo effort, he almost gave Cranes the lead, but his effort missed the target by inches.
Muzeyi finally made it 1-0 off a Walusimbi well timed cross in the 58th minute, Allan Okello made it 2-0 with his trademark strike of cutting inside and shooting with his sweet left.
Muzeyi completed his brace with a beautiful effortless strike as the Kampala Region defense was still wondering what he was to do next.
Bright Anukani came off the bench to give Cranes’ a fourth with a beautiful thunderous effort with his left foot in added time, that happened to be the last highlight of the game.
Cranes Starting XI: Charles Lukwago, Paul Willa, Godfrey Walusimbi (Mustafa Kizza), Mustafa Mujuzi, Hassan Wasswa, Taddeo Lwanga (David Owor), Saddam Juma (Ivan Eyam), Julius Poloto (Michael Burungi), Allan Okello (Bright Anukani), Juma Balinya (Brian Majwega), Bashir Mutanda (Daniel Muzeyi Sserunkuma) (Joel Madondo)
The 15 foreign based players Summoned for camp in Cairo,Egypt: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Jamal Salim (Al Hilah Omdruman, Sudan), Robert Odongkara ( Adama City FC, Ethiopia), Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania), Chrysostom Ntambi (Coffee FC, Ethiopia), Nicolas Wadada Azam FC, Tanzania), Moses Opondo (VendsysselFF, Denmark), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Khalid Aucho (Church Hill Brothers, India), Faruku Miya (Gorica, Croatia), Edris Lubega (SV Reid, Austria), Emma Okwi (Simba, Tanzania), Muhammad Shaban (Raja Casablanca, Morocco)
Uganda Cranes Training programme
March 18th-22nd: 24 man Uganda Cranes Squad camp in Cairo, Egypt
March 23rd: 24 man Uganda Cranes Squad flies to Tanzania
March 24th Tanzania vs Uganda (AFCON Qualifier in Dar es Salaam)
