Fresh from helping SC Villa clinch the 2023/24 Uganda Premier League title, defender Arnold Odong is now channeling that same intensity into Uganda's preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
Odong, who played a pivotal role for SC Villa last season with 24 appearances, believes the high-intensity training camp underway at the FUFA Technical Centre in Kisasi is sharpening the Cranes for what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament.
The camp is part of the team's final build-up to the continental event, which is reserved for players plying their trade in their home countries.
"The first week of camp has not been easy," Odong admitted.
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"The intensity has increased, training has become tougher, but it's good for us. We appreciate it because it's going to help us perform better as a team in the coming games. Our coaches believe a lot in hard work, and that's exactly what it takes to compete."
Under the watchful eye of co-coaches Morley Byekwaso and Fred Muhumuza, Uganda's locally-based stars have embraced the demands of the residential camp, blending tactical drills with physical conditioning.
Odong says the camp is also creating vital chemistry in the squad.
"First of all, it's a very good thing as a team to enter camp because it has brought us all together," he explained.
"The players are working together, bonding, getting to know each other more. We're able to train collectively and the coaches can monitor what each and every player is doing. It's really helping us grow as a team."
The 24-year-old defender brings more than domestic pedigree to the squad.
Odong featured for Uganda during their 2023 AFCON qualification campaign and friendlies against continental heavyweights such as Cameroon and Gambia--experiences he believes have equipped him with insights that are now benefiting the CHAN squad.
"Moving with the team during AFCON qualification gave me a lot of experience," he said.
"I got to play with top players, learned from them, and understood how the national team operates. That same style of play is now being used for CHAN, so I come in with a bit of insight I can share with the squad to help us work better together."
Placed in a tricky Group C alongside Algeria, South Africa, Guinea and Niger, Uganda will need every ounce of grit, unity, and tactical clarity to progress.
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"We're home and we need to give it our all," Odong added. "We need to work really hard to get out of the group and go far in the tournament."
With Odong's blend of leadership, league-winning experience and international exposure, the Cranes may well have the defensive backbone needed to make a strong CHAN 2024 run.
