It is now a full house in the Sand Cranes camp ahead of the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship scheduled to take place between 6th and 11th June 2025 in Mombasa, Kenya.
Brian Nkuubi (FWD, Kampala City), Kigozi Ambrose (FWD, Kampala City) and goalkeeper Ronald Mutebi are the latest arrivals at the camp.
The trio trained with the rest of the teammates at Bamboo Gardens Beach Soccer arena on Wednesday morning.
The team started residential training on Monday under the co-head coaches Arch Rica Byaruhanga and Akabwai Geofrey, and assistant coach Baker Lukooya.
They are impressed with all the 20 players in the camp and so convinced with the way they’re adapting to their new strategy – that Byaruhanga termed “The Ugandan Way.”
“It’s so far so good. The camps is full, all the twenty players are here – including all the four goalkeepers. The players are training well and they are okay. We have had a very good integration of the new young players with the senior players and this was our intention in the first two days – to see that the team integrates.”
“The players are in good shape, and we haven’t recorded any injuries. We expect to put up a good show when we move to Mombasa next week.”
“We want to play the Ugandan way and the boys are doing it really well. We want to play with energy, we want to be proactive, we want to intimidate, and we want to control the game with or without the ball.”
“We want to start a new chapter of beach soccer, we want to play an energetic game with flair because people have to enjoy the game. That’s the Ugandan way we want to showcase.
The coach also hailed the attitude of the young players – Kuol Micheal, Niwesasira Sison and Edweu Godfrey who are coming straight from secondary school beach soccer competitions without playing the game at the elite level.
“I am impressed with the boys, they’re doing things the senior way- something that we didn’t expect from a secondary school beach soccer player. But I also thank the senior players. They are encouraging these young boys to do things. They’re supportive.”
Defenders Lule Paul and Niyonzima Benon, will not be available for selection.
Players in camp:
Kikonyogo Jonathan (DF, St. Lawrence Univ – BSC), Oppuuli Sharif (DF, Kampala City BSC), Mukwata Peter (DF, Mutoola BSC), Lubega Sharif (DF, St. Lawrence Univ – BSC), Kuol Micheal (DF, London College of St. Lawrence), Edweu Godfrey (FWD, Teso College Aloet), Kigozi Ambrose (FWD, Kampala City BSC), Nyalimo Steven (FWD, Mutoola BSC), Niwesasira Sison (FWD, Standard High Zana), Nkuubi Brian (FWD, Kampala City BSC), Lubwama Joshua (FWD, Kampala City BSC), Kagezi Junior (FWD, MS-Sandlions), Turyamuhika Deus (FWD, Makerere Univ Business Sch – BSC), Lasu Thomas Lomoro (FWD, Makerere Univ Business Sch – BSC), Ssendi Joseph Kabona (FWD, Buganda Royal Inst – BSC), Wasswa Emmanuel Alex (FWD, Kampala City BSC), Kibirige Meddie (GK, Kampala City BSC), Mutebi Ronald (GK, Unattached), Kasibante Edward (GK, Buganda Royal Inst – BSC), Omedwa Rogers (GK, Kampala City BSC).
Technical Bench:
Co-head Coaches: Arch Rica Byaruhanga, and Akabwai Geofrey.
Assistant coach – Baker Lukooya, Team Doctor: Kulika Ivan, Team Manager: Ssebagala Tonny.
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