Uganda v Niger
September 8

SUPERSPORT United and Cranes custodian Dennis Onyango successfully underwent keyhole knee surgery yesterday at around 3.30 p.m. to repair torn ligaments.
The 21-year-old is expected to leave the Johannesburg hospital, where the operation was done, this morning to begin his rehabilitation programme.

Last week Daily Monitor exclusively reported that the shot stopper underwent a scan on his right knee, which showed that he had torn ligaments.

His coach Gavin Hunt said that Onyango would most probably be out for two months, thus ruling him out of Uganda’s must-win Group 3 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger on September 8.

Hunt has also signed keeper Thabang Stemmer on a three-year deal as cover for Andre Arendse as Onyango regains full fitness.
Cranes’ Hungarian-born tactician Laszlo Csaba, despite revealing little knowledge about Onyango’s operation, told Daily Monitor that his absence would not leave his preparations in disarray.

“All I know is what came out in the Daily Monitor last Friday but there is no cause for alarm as we have enough quality keepers for the Niger tie,” said a confident Csaba adding, “Hannington (Kalyesubula) is an able deputy and Posnet (Omwony) over the weekend proved that he is still a quality keeper.”

Omwony guided his Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Bloemfontein Celtic to victory over Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Charity Cup final.
The former Villa keeper saved a crucial penalty in the shootout to earn Celtics a 4-3 victory.

On the dropping of Hassan Mubiru, Csaba maintained that the veteran striker had failed to make the most of his numerous chances. “Since the Lesotho tie in June, Mubiru is sitting here with no club,” Csaba explained.

Eugene Ssepuuya has no club as well but Csaba says that if he gets a club, he could earn a recall. He also said that he is happy to have Abubaker Tabula and Mike Sserumaga back in the squad. “Tabula will give us balance on the left. He can play in defence as well as on the left-side of midfield since Obua is still struggling with a hip injury.”

Cranes must wallop Niger and pray that other results go Uganda’s way to qualify. Uganda has not played at the Nations Cup since the 1978 tournament in Accra, Ghana.