Our first target is to get out of group, says Uganda coach

Uganda football national team tactician Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević is looking to reach the knock-out stages in Group D of Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament scheduled for January 16 to February 7 in Rwanda. The Serbian, a former Amavubi coach, says his first target is to make sure that the Cranes get out in Group D, which will be staged in Rubavu at Stadium against Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mali as they try to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in three attempts. “Winning the title is not our target, we just want to go as far as we can but getting out of the group stages is our first target. We have two friendlies and those will give us a clear picture if our team will be able competes in CHAN” he said. He added, “Get out of the group stages is our big aim because I believe I have a strong team enough to compete with the other nations. Good preparations will be a deciding factor and I pray I don’t have injuries in my team.” Uganda will play the warm-up matches against Gabon and Cameroon on Sunday and next Wednesday to will allow Micho more of a deeper look into his side. Meanwhile, Ethiopia on Thursday named their final 23 players for the CHAN tournament. Ethiopia is in group B alongside Angola, Congo Kinshasa and Cameroon. A bulk of the players who featured at the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and finished third behind Rwanda and eventual champions, Uganda has been maintained. Uganda: Goalkeepers: James Alitho (Vipers S.C), Mathias Kigonya (Bright Stars F.C), Ismail Watenga (Vipers FC) Defenders: Dennis Okot (KCCA FC), Richard Kasagga (URA FC), Joseph Nsubuga (Bright Stars), Isaac Muleme (SC Villa Jogoo), Hassan Wasswa Dazzo (KCCA FC), Timothy Awany (KCCA), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA FC), Bernard Muwanga (Bright Stars FC) Midfielders: Ivan Ntege (KCCA FC), Ambrose Kirya (SC Villa Jogoo), Keziron Kizito (Vipers), Muzamil Mutyaba (KCCA FC), Miya Faruku (Vipers), Martin Kiiza (SC Villa Jogoo) Strikers: Robert Ssentongo (URA), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Frank Kalanda (URA), Ceasar Okhuti (KCCA FC), Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers SC) -- Ethiopia: Goalkeepers: Abel Mamo (Mugher Ciminto), Yidenekachew Kidane (Mekelakeya) and Dereje Alemu (Dashen Bira) Defenders: Seyoum Tesfaye (Dedebit), Alula Giram (Kidus Giorgis), Tekalegn Dejene (Dedebit), Souliman Mohammed (Adama Kenema), Asechalew Tamene (Kidus Giorgis), Ateneh Tesfaye (Sidama Bunna), Yared Baye (Dashen Bira) and Wendifraw Getahun (Ethiopia Bunna) Midfielders: Gatoch Panom (Ethiopia Bunna), Asrat Megeressa (Dashen Bira), Tesfaye Alebachew (Kidus Giorgis) Biniyam Belay (Ethiopia Nigd Bank), Tadele Menegesha (ArbaMinch Kenema), Behailu Assefa (Kidus Giorgis), Samson Tilahun (Dedebit), Tafesse Solomon (Hawassa Kenema) and Elias Mamo (Ethiopia Bunna) Forwards: Ramkel Lok (Kidus Giorgis) Tafesse Tesfaye (Adama Kenema) and Mulualem Tilahun (Mekelakeya) editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Sports

Our first target is to get out of group, says Uganda coach