As Uganda’s Rugby Cranes head to Kenya for the first leg of the annual Elgon Cup, next year’s Africa Cup is in focus foor the coaches.
The techincal team named the 23-man squad for the Saturday clash at RFUEA Ground and its a blend of experience and youth, with a couple of national sevens stars in the team.
“We have had a short window of time to prepare the team but it’s has been amazing how the team has gelled together as a unit.
“We believe we have hit our set goals on preparing the players but of course it can never be 100% , there’s always room for improvement,” assistant coach Leonaard Lubambula said.
Faraji Odugo and Nathan Bwambale who hooked during the Africa Cup at Namboole are out with Jude Jjuko given the lineout-plus-maul duties.
KOBs’ Pius Ogena starts at the base of the scrum with fellow sevens star Aaron Ofoyrwoth in to direct traffic at flyhalf.
Mongers skipper Philip Odrua is in line to debut for the national side on the left wing at a tough huning ground for Uganda.
“Playing at Ngong Road (RFUEA Ground) is quite tough and it’s been evident in the previous encounters with Kenya but we believe we have prepared the team, we believe the boys are up to the task having in mind that this the same team that will be playing next year in the Rugby Africa Cup as the first game.
“We have the confidence and we have had to work on the competence of the team which is built into the confidence of the players and that’s a plus on our side. This is a base for next year’s Rugby Africa cup. We have tried very much to grow the depth of the the team.
“We have a new combination for this first game. We want to look at Joseph Aredo at 15, Aaron Ofoyrwoth at 10 and Conrad [Wanyama] at 9. We want to look at how they are going to run our game model, it’s been looking pretty good in training sessions and we would like to see that implemented into games especially under pressure,” Lubambula added.
RUGBY CRANES SQUAD
- SANTOS SSENTEZA
- JUDE JJUKO
- ASUMAN MUGERWA
- CHARLES UHURU
- ELIPHAZ EMONG
- MOSES ZZIWA
- BYRON OKETAYOT (C)
- PIUS OGENA
- CONRAD WANYAMA (VC)
- AARON OFWOYRWOTH
- ROBIN PHILIP ODRUA
- ERIC MULAMULA
- INNOCENT GWOKTO
- SHAKIM SSEMBUSI
- JOSEPH AREDO
- EDWARD EMIEMU
- SAUL KIVUMBI
- COLLIN KIMBOWA
- SIDNEY GONGODYO
- BRIAN WANDERA
- YASIN WASSWA
- HARUNA MUHAMMAD
- WILFRED POOL KALUNGI
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