In preparation for the likely absence of Hakim Kiwanuka and Denis Omedi, Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put has added KCCA forward Usama Arafat to the provisional squad.

The Belgian, on Wednesday named both players on a 36-man provisional squad to start preparations for the forthcoming tournament scheduled to kick off on February 1 in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

On the same day, Rwanda’s APR unveiled forwards Kiwanuka and Omedi from SC Villa and Kitara respectively and with CHAN a tournament for local based players, this could rule them out.

However, their absence depends on whether their International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) have been issued as mere unveiling doesn’t necessarily mean completion of a move.

If the ITCs are issued, both players will automatically miss the tournament as they would have completed international transfers which is contrary to the eligibility to feature in a competition for the local based players.

Additionally, it doesn’t make sense for APR to allow their players, as unveiled, with ITCs processed or not to feature in a competition where they can even get injured before they feature for the club.

We couldn’t reliably speak to the Rwanda Premier League champions on the matter but according to reliable sources, both players are expected to return to Kampala and if all is well, will train with Uganda Cranes at Luzira on Friday.

But with the Rwanda Premier League still ongoing as the country missed out on CHAN qualification, it is assumed the two will be needed to feature immediately.

While naming the squad, Put said he called many players aware that being a transfer period, some may earn moves internationally.

The final squad of about 25 players will be named on Monday next week.  

In 2000, Allan Okello missed out the tournament hosted by Cameroon after he completed a move to Algerian side AC Paradou in the January transfer window.

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