Karekezi, Nirisarike to miss Cranes game

WednesdayRwanda vs UgandaTanzania vs CameroonLibya vs KenyaAMAVUBI Stars skipper Olivier Karekezi and Belgium-based defender Solomon Nirisarike have been ruled out of Wednesday’s international friendly against the Uganda Cranes to be played at Amahoro stadium.AC Bizertin striker Karekezi requested to be left out to concentrate on settling down at his new club in Tunisia where he must fight to cement his place in the team.His team has a big league game against Club Africaine three days after the Amavubi game, and the coach wants to have al his key players, including Karekezi available.Nirisarike, who plays for Belgium side Antweerp, was blocked from traveling following the expiry of his work permit.Another key absentee is young defender Emery Bayisenge, who is undergoing professional trials with Belgium Jupiler League side Zulte-Waregem FC.It means coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic will have only three foreign based players in his squad namely, Mbuyu Twite and Haruna Niyonzima, who both play for Tanzania’s Yanga, and Jessy Reindorf (UN Namur-Belgium). The trio linked up with the rest of the team last night at Sports View hotel. Meanwhile, Uganda Cranes coach Bobby Williamson is not taking the international friendly lightly. The Scot has named a formidable squad which also includes Gor Mahia striker Daniel Sserunkuma, who has surprisingly made a U-turn back into the fold.Sserunkuma in the build-up to the Tusker Cecafa Cup last year gave a cold shoulder to a call-up to the Cranes under unclear circumstances. In their last meeting during the 2011 Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge Cup finals in Tanzania, Uganda beat Rwanda 2-1 in the final.Cranes squad:Goalkeepers: Hamza Muwonge (Vipers), Abel Dhaira (Simba,Tz) & Ali Kimera (Victoria)Defenders: Simeon Masaba (URA), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers), Savio Kabugo and Denis Guma (both Victoria), Fahad Kawooya and Habib Kavuma (both KCC) & Fred Kakooza (Simba)Midfielders: Hassan Wasswa, Michael Birungi and Brian Majwega (All KCC), Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Mike Sserumaga (Proline), Joseph Mpande (Vipers), Sam Ssekitto (Simba) & Willy Kavuma (Express).Strikers: Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza (Yanga, Tz), Daniel Sserunkuma (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Brian Umony (Azam, Tz) & Ali Feni (URA)