Micho summons seven pros for Rwanda clash

May 23 Rwanda U-23 vs Uganda U-23 Uganda head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has summoned seven foreign-based players ahead of the CAF U-23 Championship second round qualifier against Rwanda on May 23 at Amahoro stadium. The former Amavubi coach is keen on registering victory when he makes his first return to Kigali in a competitive game against his former employers. Micho has included El Merreikh goalkeeper Jamal Salim, striker Yunus Sentamu who plies his trade for Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, the Kenyan based pair of Khalid Aucho (Gor Mahia) and Shafiq Batambuze (Sofapaka) as well as Richard Kasagga (Salam FC), Denis Iguma (Al Ahed in Lebanon) and Ambrose Kirya (JMC). Sentamu, who scored three goals at the 2013 CHAN tournament in South Africa is also renowned for his role in guiding Congolese club AS Vita to the finals of the 2014 CAF Champions League where they lost to Algerian side ES Setif on a 3-3 aggregate. Youngster Farouk Miya who scored the lone strike as the senior team, Uganda Cranes defeated Nigeria 1-0 in a friendly game in March at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo, south-eastern Nigeria is also part of the squad currently training at the Nelson Mandela stadium, Namboole. The Serbian told Ugandan newspaper New Vision that, “I’m happy with the team preparations. Everybody is eager to play Rwanda. I’m sure we can achieve against Rwanda but we cannot underrate any opponent.” The Uganda Kobs arrive in Kigali on Friday morning and will train at Amahoro stadium in the afternoon. Djibouti referee Souleiman Ahmed Djamal alongside Abdillahi Mahamoud Iltireh, Hamze Abdi Salime and Farah Aden Ali will be in charge of the game with Burundian Aimable Habimana as the Match Commissioner. The return leg will be played on May 31 in Kampala and the winner of this tie will face Egypt in the final round of qualification. The winner will then qualify for the CAF U-23 Championship that is scheduled for November 28-December 12 in Dakar, Senegal. The top three sides will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Micho summons seven pros for Rwanda clash