Tired Cranes Face Tanzania In Mombasa

 The Uganda Cranes team arrived in Mombasa late last evening ahead of their first quarter final match against Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars this afternoon. Despite the fact that the team is tired because of being held on Friday at Milele Hotel over nonpayment of hotel bills by the hosts and delays atJomo Kenyatta Airport, Milutin ‘Micho Sredojevic, the head coach says they will give their best.

The game starts at 2pm under the hot weather conditions here. Mitcho told URN this morning in Mombasa says they are ready to forget whatever they went through to concentrate on winning the game. He says although Tanzania arrived in Mombasa early on Friday and attended training his team will not be cry-babies but be ready for war on the pitch. Defender Savio Kabugo is a big doubt for the team as he has been down with fever.

Micho says they will monitor the player few hours to the match to decide whether he can make it for the crucial game. The Cranes are the only team to keep a 100% record in the group stage of this tournament with three wins and no goals conceded. They beat Rwanda and Sudan by 1-0 score, while they triumphed over Eritrea 3-0 with skipper Emanuel Okwi netting a brace. Micho is optimistic the partnership of Daniel Sserunkuma, Okwi and Hamis Kizza should produce some goals against Tanzania.

Although Uganda ejected the same Tanzania team in the 2014 Africa Nations qualifiers two months ago, the presence of TP Mazembe players Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulinwengu for Kilimanjaro Stars will definitely give the defending champions head-ace. The second quarter final clash today will see hosts Kenya face Rwanda’s Amavubi in another match expected to be a tight contest. Tomorrow Zambia will be up against Burundi, while Ethiopia battle Sudan.