Uganda coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic is impressed with his team's work rate ahead of the first leg of their 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier away to South Sudan on Friday.
Sredojevic, who guided the Cranes to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals after 39 years of waiting, explained that although they will not take South Sudan for granted because of their lowly FIFA ranking (143), they will approach the match in Juba with plenty of caution.
"These players are looking very good and I am confident we shall get a good result," the Serbian coach told KweséESPN ahead of the qualifiers for the premier tournament for domestic-based players.
"Sometimes I make these players really work out to the extremes and it's me that gets tired," he joked.
The coach explained that since Kampala Capital City Authority FC (KCCA) have had a good season locally -- where they won the Uganda Premier League and the Uganda Cup and also reached the group stage of the CAF Confederations Cup -- it was fair that most of the players would come from that team.
"The KCCA players with the squad are actually at a different level compared to the rest in terms of fitness," stated Sredojevic.
Striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma, who netted 21 goals to guide KCCA to the League title, scored four goals in the CAF Champions League and bagged another two in the Confederation Cup, will skipper the team.
Besides Sserunkuma, other players who were part of the 2017 Nations Cup team who will be vital for the CHAN team include defender Nicholas Wadada and Onduparaka FC striker Shaban Mohamed.
The team will miss the services of experienced striker Emmanuel Okwi -- who signed for top Tanzanian side Simba SC three weeks ago -- and defensive midfielder Ivan Ntege, who is expected to sign for Botswana Premier League champions Township Rollers this week. As such, they do not play locally in Uganda and thus cannot play for the Cranes at CHAN.
In the event Uganda eject South Sudan, they will face the winner between Tanzania and Rwanda in the final hurdle of the qualifiers. Uganda have qualified for the last three CHAN competitions: in Rwanda (2016), South Africa (2014) and Sudan (2011).
The 2018 event will take place in Kenya, where the Democratic Republic of Congo will try to defend their trophy.
Uganda Squad
Goalkeepers: Ismael Watenga, Tom Ikara, Saidi Keni
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada, Timothy Awany, Bernard Muwanga, Savio Kabugo, Rashid Toha, Paul Musamali, John Adriko
Midfielders: Deus Bukenya, Nicholas Kasozi, Muzamil Mutyaba, Tom Matsiko, Moses Waiswa, Paul Mucurezi, Isaac Muleme, Martin Kizza, Brian Majwega, Shafiq Kagimu
Strikers: Geoffrey Serunkuma Geoffrey, Derrick Nsibambi, Nelson Sekantuka, Shaban Mohamed, Milton Karisa