September 8
Uganda v Niger

THE national football team - the Cranes will today assemble for their first non-residential training session ahead of the make or break 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier against Mena du Niger.

The crunch tie will take place September 8 at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The Cranes must score at least three goals against the West African outfit to guarantee themselves a place in the finals as one of the three best second placed finishers. Nigeria, which plays Lesotho on the same day, has already won Group 3 of the qualifiers.

Coach Laszlo Csaba's charges will enter residential training at the Jokas Hotel in a fortnight.

Local football governing body, Fufa vice president in charge of technical affairs Asuman Lubowa confirmed to Daily Monitor that everything was in place to have thorough preparations.

Local based players are to start daily training sessions, with professionals, including keeper Posnet Omwony set to join in later.
“We have to get started, it will be non residential for two weeks and then the team will enter residential after all the other foreign based players have arrived,” Lubowa said.
The Confederation of African Football, Caf, has appointed a Zimbabwean referee Kenias Marange to handle the match.

Compatriots Cosmas Nyoni and Edson Nkau will be the assistant referees.
Groups 7,8,9 and 10 are to kick off at the same time to avoid match fixing.
Local players invited to camp include: Mulindwa Muwonge, Hamza Muwonge, Robert Kimuli, Richard Malinga, David Kyobe, Patrick Ochan, Dan Wagaluka, Julius Mulindwa and Yuda Mugalu. Others to start training today are Hamis Kitagenda, Simeon Masaba and Tony Mawejje.