Uganda is playing at the finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the sixth successive time. Prior to this year’s tournament, the Cranes have also featured in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 editions.
In this article, FUFA Communications Department brings you closer to the team to know peculiar details, statistics, facts and figures about the Uganda Cranes contingent in Algeria.
10 FUFA Juniors League graduates in the Uganda Cranes CHAN Squad 2022
Development is a slow process that starts with dreams and ends up with ideas for execution. The FUFA Juniors League (FJL) started in 2015 with a competition for players under the age of 17, then progressed to U18 and finally with the U19 as the highest age category for the youth Competition.
The FJL has since moved to all the FUFA regions bringing together over 96 Junior teams for a National Youth Football League Competition right from the regions.
The current Uganda Cranes squad in Algeria for the TotalEnergies CHAN Squad has ten (10) graduates of the FUFA Juniors League. The players are;
Jack Komakech (URA FC JT U-19)
Abdu Karim Watambala (Vipers SC JT U17)
Geofrey Wasswa (Vipers Sc U17)
Travis Mutyaba (Vipers SC JT U17, U18)
Ashraf Mandela (Vipers SC JT U17)
James Begisa Penz (KCCA FC SA U17)
Moses Aliro (KCCA FC SA U17)
Titus Ssematimba (Masavu FC JT U18)
Kenneth Semakula- (Kirinya Jinja SSS JT U19)
Rogers Mato Kassim (Lweza Orange Brigade U17, Proline FC JT U18, Maroons FC JT U19)
The 3 Ws in the Uganda Cranes CHAN Squad
Talk of being unique. The current Uganda Cranes squad in Algeria for the TotalEnergies CHAN Finals has something to do with players’ names. Three players out of the 23-man squad have the letter ‘W’ for their names and they proudly tease their teammates with pride about this.
The players are; Watambala Abu Karim, Waiswa Moses and Wasswa Geoffrey. Two of them are midfielders while Wasswa plies in central defence.
8 Uganda Cranes Goldies in CHAN Squad
The current Uganda Cranes squad in Algeria has seven (8) players who have featured before at the CHAN Finals. The experience stretches from the 2018 Finals in Morocco through the 2020 Finals hosted by Cameroon in 2021. Milton Karisa (2018, 2020 and 2022) is the most experienced of the players as he is appearing at his third CHAN Finals. The full list has;
Milton Karisa (2018, 2020, 2022)
Moses Waiswa (2018, 2022)
Nelson Senkatuka (2018, 2022)
Bright Anukani (2020, 2022)
Abu Karim Watambala (2020, 2022)
Joel Mutakubwa (2020, 2022)
Nafian Alionzi (2020, 2022)
Ibrahim Orit (2020,2022)
The Youngest player
Travis Mutyaba features for Sc Villa in the Uganda Premier League. He has featured for the Uganda National teams at all levels (U15, U17 and U20 and now the Uganda Cranes). He will be playing at the TotalEnergies CHAN Finals for the first time.
He is just 17 years and 4 months old but his trophy gallery keeps growing with each passing day. He now has the chance to add to that collection with bravery and commitment at the CHAN Finals in Algeria when head coach Milutin Sredojevic calls on his services.
Mutyaba will also join the Uganda U-20 National team after the CHAN Finals as the team prepares for the AFCON Finals in Egypt due next month.
Goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba is ‘Mr. CHAN’
Head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic will lead an experienced team that has been tested at this level from the past editions. Micho who has handled both Zambia (2020) and Uganda (2014, 2016, 2022) at CHAN Finals will be making his 4th appearance.
However, goalkeeping trainer Fred Kajoba (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022) is the most experienced of all the technical members at this level. He deserves the title of ‘Mr. CHAN’.
The other members of the technical team are; assistant coach Moses Basena (2011, 2016 and 2022) Physiotherapist Dr Ivan Ssewanya (2016, 2018 and 2022) and Physician Dr Emmanuel Nakabago (2020 and 2022).
Source: FUFA website