There has been anxiety in The Cranes camp since Monday as the team regroup and some players face the misfortune of seeing their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) dream end this weekend when coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic trims the squad, reports JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE.
Apart from the legion of South Africa based Dennis Onyango, Khalid Aucho and Geoffrey Massa, all of whom have been mainstays, Micho has for the bigger part of this week had most of the players he needed in training.
Twenty-nine players presented themselves including Sweden- based defender Ronald Mukiibi, who plies his trade at top-flight side, Osterstunds. However, eight will be dropped, leaving a host of players on tenterhooks.
Micho admits that it is not fun telling players to leave although it is inevitable.
“Having seen how everyone has been working very hard this week, one can see that there is a determination to contribute to the team. But I have to reduce the team to a manageable number that I can monitor and give maximum attention.”
The Cranes kick off their Afcon campaign against Ghana on January 17. Micho needs only 23 players from the 40 summoned early this month. The first major suspects for the ax will be the players that have not been part of Micho’s establishment.
For example, while SC Villa’s Vitalis Tabu has been impressive in the league, the left- winger never played for The Cranes. His effort in training cannot be questioned; the occasion has appeared to faze him.
Other suspects include striker Erisa Sekisambu, full-back Joseph Nsubuga and left-back Batambuze.
Notably, Muhammad Shafik Derrick Nsibambi, Yunus race to become Geoffrey Sentamu and Geoffrey Massa’s back-up strikers Sserunkuma are also in during the continental Shaban, stiff competition in the tournament in Gabon.