The assistant coach of the Crested Cranes, Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, has said the team has entered camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel Kisasi to embark on preparing for the forth-coming game with Rwanda that will see them step on the road to the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers.
“After the team enters camp, we now have to get to work straight away and prepare the players to get into the perfect shape. I believe the team summoned has the ability to overcome Rwanda,” Khafa said.
He also added that he is doing whatever it takes to make sure the fitness levels of the players are worked upon to make sure they have a formidable team to complete the task ahead.
Khalifa explained some of the U18 players he summoned to beef up the contingent team, stating that they have the quality to push the senior players.
“I believe they have the quality to push the senior players. Additionally, the U18 team has been in camp for the last two weeks, and they are in better shape than many who have been inactive. So, I am confident they will embrace the opportunity and maybe make the final squad,” he said.
Reacting to the six foreign-based players who are part of the 35 players, Khalifa revealed that they (the six) have come with experience in terms of exposure and competitions.
In his last remarks, he thanked FUFA for the deliberate efforts made over the years to develop women’s football in Uganda, revealing that there was little hope that Uganda would reach such heights in sports.
According to the organisers, the Crested Cranes will host Rwanda on July 11, 2023, before the two teams face off in Huye Stadium in Rwanda a week later.