BY MARK KAWALYA
Uganda cranes Serbian coach Micho Sredojevic named a new captain that would hopefully steer the team to a series of victories ahead of the upcoming qualifiers. Khalid Aucho captained the Cranes in their World Cup qualifying meetings against Rwanda.
The Cranes faced Amavubi in a Group E match on October 7 where the Ugandans beat their adversaries 1-0 at the Stade De Kigali, Nyamirambo. Israel-based Ugandan striker Azizi Fahad Bayo scored the lone goal of the match in the 41st minute of the game.
Bayo repeated the feat with a powerful header to secure victory in the return tie in Kampala on October 10, 2021. The Cranes now lie in second place in Group E on eight points, two points behind leaders Mali with the forthcoming game in Bamako likely to determine who progresses to qualifying stage 3.
Yanga SC’s midfielder Aucho replaced Okwi who took over from retired Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango. He will be assisted by Taddeo Lwanga and Denis Iguma. This was confirmed by Micho during the weekly KFM Sports radio talk show.
“I together with my technical team have already decided on who will captain the team against Rwanda and that is Khalid [Aucho],” Micho said.
“Denis Iguma will deputize him as Taddeo Lwanga, Timothy Awany, and other senior players will wait in the same line but I expect all my players to behave as leaders during those two matches and going forward.”
Okwi was not part of the 33-man team picked by the experienced Serbian because the 28-year-old player lacked playing time due to no affiliation to any soccer club.
“We respect Okwi as one of the legends of Ugandan football that’s why we gave him the minutes against both Kenya and Mali. Micho said.
That was to help him find a club but now that he doesn’t have a club yet, we never wanted to summon him without the required fitness.”
Aucho wore the armband in both previous World Cup Qualifiers against Kenya and Mali, when Okwi was substituted.
Uganda Squad
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga (Chippa United, South Africa), Charles Lukwago (St George, Ethiopia), Alionzi Nafian (URA, Uganda), Joel Mutakubwa (Express, Uganda).
Defenders: Innocent Wafula (KCCA, Uganda), Paul Willa (Vipers, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Mustafa Kizza (Montreal Impact, Canada), Abdul-Azizi Kayondo (Vipers, Uganda), Timothy Denis Awany (Ashdod, Israel), Enock Walusimbi (Express, Uganda), Najib Fesali (URA, Uganda), Geoffrey Wasswa (KCCA, Uganda), Livingstone Mulondo (Vipers, Uganda).
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Young Africans, Tanzania), Tadeo Lwanga (Simba, Tanzania), Moses Waiswa (Supersport United, South Africa), Mahad Yaya Kakooza (Express, Uganda), Denis Iguma (KCCA, Uganda), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers, Uganda), Julius Poloto (KCCA, Uganda), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers, Uganda), Milton Karisa (Vipers, Uganda), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA, Uganda), Rogers Mato (KCCA, Uganda).
Forwards: Aziz Fahad Bayo (Ashdod, Israel), Yunus Junior Sentamu (Vipers, Uganda), Stephen Desse Mukwala (URA, Uganda), Cromwell Rwothomio (URA, Uganda), Sadat Anaku (KCCA, Uganda), and Charles Lwanga (KCCA, Uganda).
