Uganda Cranes Depart for Uzbekistan to Take Part in Navruz Cup

A 38 man contigent has in the morning hours of Tuesday 22nd March, 2022 left Uganda for Uzbekstan to take part in Navruz Cup scheduled to take place betweeen 25th to 29th March this year.

The delegation boarded Turkish Airlines flight TK 612 and was led by Magoola Kakaire one of the FUFA Executive Committee members. It had 13 local based players and 11 foreign based players.

The tournament which will include four nations; Kyrgz Republic, Uzbekistan (hosts), Uganda and Tajikistan will be used to prepare for the next CHAN Tournament 2022 (8th–31st January 2023) and the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.

Speeking of the tournament, the Uganda Cranes head coach Micho Sredejovic had this to tell FUFA media:

'We are using the Navruz Cup to assemble the teams that will feature in the qualifiers of CHAN 2023 and AFCON 2023 tournaments. There is a balance of players in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League as well as those featuring in the diaspora leagues’.

Uganda Cranes was held to a 1 all draw by Buganda region select team in their last outing on Sunday 20th March 2022 at Naama Playground. Mato Rogers gave the Cranes lead but Rajab Jooga levelled matters for the Buganda resgion select team.