Timbe’s concern over missing players

Atraco head coach Sam Timbe is a worried man ahead of the upcoming Kagame/Cecafa club championship in Khartoum, Sudan.

Thursday, June 18, 2009
STAR-MAN: Ugandan midfielder Joseph Kabagambe (R) will pull the strings in the middle of the park for Atraco in case Jean Shyaka misses out.

Atraco head coach Sam Timbe is a worried man ahead of the upcoming Kagame/Cecafa club championship in Khartoum, Sudan.

The Ugandan coach is expected to be without his key quartet and seems to be laboring to forge a winning formation for his team’s opening games.

Atraco captain Jean Shyaka, Aloua Gaseruka, Donatien Tuyizere and Jean Luc Ndayishimiye are all expected to miss the opening stages of the competition after being summoned to the national football team, Amavubi Stars.

Branko Tucak’s wasps are shaping up for their make or break 2010 World/Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt on July 5 which means that if the quartet make the Croat’s final squad to Egypt, Timbe should expected them after July 5.

A concerned Timbe though could not hide his frustration during yesterday’s interview with Times Sport.

"I would have loved to start the competition with my strongest side. These players are very important and contribute so much to the team,” he said.

The former Uganda Police Fc coach has expressed his concern to Ferwafa but the football governing body boss Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura insists that it is up to Tucak to decide.

"We work hand in hand with clubs but at this stage, it is up to the coach to decide,” Kazura said.

Atraco, who are chasing for a maiden Kagame Cup title open their campaign on June 30 with a tough test against Sudan giants El Merreikh.

El Merreikh had the better of Atraco early this year when they ejected the latter in the first round of the coveted African Champions league after a 2-1 goal aggregates win.

Atraco’s other Group A opponents are Kenya’s Mathare and Kartileh of Djibouti.

Group B constitutes of TP Mazembe, Uganda’s KCC, Tanzania Prisons and Benadir Telecom of Somalia while Group C pits defending champion Tusker FC against Hey El-Arab of Sudan, Miembeni of Zanzibar and Burundi’s Inter Stars.

The tournament winner will pocket $50,000 while the runner-ups will settle for $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.

Ends