Uganda Cranes New Captain Emmanuel Okwi Speaks Out Ahead of Friendly Match with South Africa

The New Uganda Cranes Captain Emmanuel Arnold Okwi has spoken out ahead of the Ugandan Cranes friendly match against South Africa.

"It's a great honor and privilege to me, as we go into a friendly with South Africa, it's going to be a tough game because SA a good team but we're going to merge with the new players at the team so as we give out the best."

"As the captain, I welcome all new players at the team and they should feel free, everyone is welcome, we should all respect each other from the young to the oldest, work together and push the national team forward."

Okwi is confident the Bafana Bafana team will give the Cranes a good challenge. "South Africa didn't qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and will have much to prove and like wise it is the case with the Cranes." With new players at the national team.

Okwi is optimistic they will want to keep their slots at the national team and a win against South Africa will give Okwi's side confidence going into the World Cup.

Speaking of his former Captain Dennis Onyango, Okwi had this to say, "Apart from being my captain, Onyango is my friend, we always speak and he's someone I've always looked up to, someone we respect so much, he's done so much for the nation, I inquire from him, he also congratulated me upon being the next Uganda Cranes Captain."

Uganda Cranes visit South Africa on Thursday 10th June,2021 in a friendly match that prepares the team for World Cup Qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes kicks off its quest for a maiden World Cup appearance with a qualification match away to Kenya on 1st September,2021 before hosting Mali four days later.

The captain @EmmanuelOkwi in the house ⚽️🇺🇬✌ pic.twitter.com/X3j1jL46yT

— Uganda Cranes (@UgandaCranes) June 2, 2021

Uganda will then play its last match of the first legs with an away trip to neighbors Rwanda on 6th October,2021. Hosting playgrounds will be communicated.