Innocent Ndawula
8 October 2008
Kampala — Rwanda-based midfielder Michael Ssebalinga yesterday got a surprise call to the national fold ahead of Uganda's decisive Sunday's African/World Cup qualifier against Benin.
Keen for more pace in attack, assistant coaches Sam Ssimbwa and Jackson Mayanja opted for the former Nile and SC Villa player though the irony is that Ssebalinga, now at Atraco FC, has never been blessed with searing pace.
He was due in the country yesterday evening together with teammate Johnson Bagoole who has effectively manned the Cranes midfield in the last couple of matches.
Ssimbwa is confident Ssebalinga will make a strong Cranes debut after an impressive run of form at Sam Timbe's Atraco. "He has played for Uganda before (U-23) and should be enthusiastic to play again. He is the star of his club and he has scored many goals this year. We have been monitoring him and if he turns up in the right shape as expected, he will be on the starting line-up," an upbeat Ssimbwa said.
Coach Bobby Williamson, Ibrahim Ssekagya, Nestory Kizito and Eugene Ssepuuya are due in Kampala to join the South-Africa based trio of Posnet Omwony, Timothy Batabaire and Geoffrey Sserunkuma. The latter three arrived Monday night.
World Cup qualifiers
Uganda v Benin
Angola v Niger
Saturday fixtures
Tanzania v Cape Verde Islands
Camer'n v Mauritius
Namibia v Zimbabwe
Guinea v South Africa
Nigeria v Sierra Leone
Gabon v Libya
Ghana v Lesotho
Liberia v Algeria
Senegal v Gambia
Botswana v Mozambique
Ivory C't v Madagascar
Rwanda v Ethiopia
Morocco v Mauritania
Tunisia v Seychelles
Mali v Chad
Togo v Swaziland
Malawi v Congo DR
Sunday fixtures
Guinea v Kenya
Uganda v Benin
Angola v Niger
Burundi v Burkina Faso
Egypt v Djibouti
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