Abdallah Mubiru
1 December 2011
Dar Es Salaam — UGANDA Cranes will battle Burundi in an explosive fixture that will determine who finishes top of Group B in the CECAFA Challenge Cup in Dar es Salam on Thursday.
The Cranes will however have to achieve that without the services of team captain Andy Mwesigwa and goalkeeper Abbey Dhaira.
Mwesigwa is suspended for his dismissal in the game against Somalia while Dhaira is down with a bout of malaria.
But on the positive side, Tony Mawejje returns to the first team after recovering from malaria that forced him out of the match with Somalia last week.
Henry Kalungi, who made his Cranes debut during the LG four Nations Cup match against Morocco, has been drafted into the team as Mwesigwa’s replacement while St George custodian Robert Odongkara replaces Dhaira.
“Kalungi’s partnership with Isaac Isinde in central defence in Morocco, was impressive and Odongkara had a good tournament during last years’ CECAFA tournament so there is nothing to worry us. Both players are equally as good,” Williamson stated.
If Cranes win the group, there could be a possibility of avoiding hosts Tanzania in the quarter-finals.
Last year, the Cranes were eliminated by Tanzania after a 5-4 shoot-out defeat in the semi-finals.
Probable line-up:
Odongkara, Masaba, Kavuma,Isinde, Kalungi, Mawejje, Wagaluka, Ochan, Okwi, Serumaga and Mutyaba.
Thursday, All on SS9
Zanzibar v Somalia 2pm
Burundi v Cranes 4pm
Tuesday results
Kenya 2 Ethiopia 0
Sudan 0 Malawi 0
AllAfrica – All the Time