Champions League Sat First legEl Merreikh v Atraco Atraco has dropped defender Tom Ssemwogerere and midfielder Alimansi Kadogo from the squad that will face Sudan’s El Merreikh in the African Champions League preliminary round first leg tie on Saturday in Khartoum. The taxi-men squad jets out today at 4pm local time aboard Ethiopian Airlines, two days before their proposed game with the Sudanese champions. According to Atraco head coach Sam Timbe, Ssemwogere was dropped after failure to recover from a knee injury he sustained during the 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in a build-up match one and half weeks ago while Kadogo was dropped due to drop in form. U-20 custodian Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Aloua Gaseruka and Uganda Cranes star Johnson Bagoole are among the top players who travel to Khartoum. Last year’s national league title holders Atraco are making their debut in the Champions League. The taxi-men club must be prepared to face a tough challenge against an El Merreikh side that beat Rayon Sport 3-0 in the Confederation Cup last year. Atraco’s first and last continental appearance came during the 2006/07 season under coach Sam Ssimbwa when they failed to go beyond the second round of the Confederation Cup. Having defeated Burundi’s Prince Louis 3-0 and Ethiopia’s Defense 2-0 on aggregates respectively, Atraco lost to Tunisia’s Gafsa. Team: Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Peter Kagabo, Godfrey Kateregga, Uwilingiyimana Amani, Johnson bagoole, Joseph Kabagambe, Kalisa Kase, Jean Shyaka, Mike Sebalinga, Aloua Gaseruka, Hamisi Kitagenda, Ismail Habumugisha, Jean Lomami, Felix Muvunyi, Charles Kawuma, Ismail Mfashingabo and Donatien Tuyizere. Technical staff: Coach Sam Timbe, Emmanuel Ruremesha (assistant Coach), Jean Claude Maniraguha (Goalkeeper’s coach), Claude Habimana (team doctor), Alex Nkunguzi (team manager). Official: Issa Ngenzi (head of delegation) Ends
