The stage is set for the Uganda Cranes to open their account at the 2017 Afcon finals in Gabon. This will come with heightened anticipation from back home about the team’s prospects and new kids on the block appearing at their first major tournament.
Muhammad Shaban
The Onduparaka FC forward Shaban, 19, is a fast and robust kind of player, who puts defenders under pressure. In this 2016/2017 Uganda Premier League season, his first in top-flight, he is the second top-scorer with eight goals. He clearly has an eye for goals.
That, he showed from the Coca-Cola schools tournament, where he represented Arua Public School in 2014. That year, he played for Uganda’s under-17 team during the Africa under-17 football championship qualifiers, scoring five goals in six games. Last year, he played for the national under-20 side, which was knocked out by Rwanda in the first round of qualifiers.
Shafik Batambuze
A left-back by orientation, Shafik Batambuze, 23, started out at Bombo United in 2012. In 2013, he joined SC Villa under coach Paul Nkata, before a cross-border football tour with the Jogoos, got him spotted by Kenyan side Western Stima.
Before he knew it, Sofapaka came calling, but he did not find success there, forcing him to return to Western Stima. However, the appointment of Nkata as Tusker FC coach, saw Batambuze reunite with Nkata in 2016, where they won the League and Cup double. In fact, Batambuze scored the goal that secured Tusker the league title.
Jamal Salim
At 24, Salim has been on the scene since 2011, when he joined Express FC from Tororo Progressive Academy. In his first top-flight season, he inspired Express to the 2012 league title, their first since 1996. He then joined KCCA FC, where he won the league in 2013.
In 2014, he joined Sudanese giants, El-Merreikh, winning the Cecafa club title at first asking in Rwanda. He has gone on to establish himself there, although he remains third-choice goalkeeper here, yet to play in a competitive game.
jovi@observer.ug