Twenty three players have trained today in Lubowa at Africa Bible University ahead of Togo clash in 2018 Fifa World Cup in Lome.

Among the players who took part in the Monday evening training, were William Luwaga Kizito, Yasser Mugerwa, Ivan Bukenya and Iguma Denis who had arrived earlier on Monday.

However, Bukenya who suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Kaizer Chiefs over the weekend in their 6-5 shoot-out victory over Orlando Pirates sat out of the training concentrating on light jogging as he waits for his fitness level assessment by the team physio before the trip to Togo on Wednesday.

The players had drills for over two hours at Africa Bible University in Lubowa under the supervision of  head coach Sredejovich ‘Micho’ Milutin and his assistants.

“Look, I’m really impressed with the response of players and I hope we can get positive results on Thursday if all goes the way we have planned.” Micho told fufa website on Monday evening before adding, “They’re responding very well to the training”

On Tuesday afternoon the team will have some light closed training at Vienna College in Namugongo

By press time, Cranes long serving goal keeper Dennis Onyango, Salim Jamal, Aucho Khalid and Godfrey Walusimbi were yet to join the team from their respective clubs today.

Meanwhile, team skipper Geoffrey Massa is optimistic that the team will beat Togo in the first leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier on November 12th.

The Bloemfontein Celtic player feels it’s important to get all the three points so that the second leg in Kampala will be much easier for the Cranes.

‘’We have to play to our optimal best if we want to win the first leg because there are no more minnows in football. People might say it’s just Togo, we are better than them in Fifa’s latest ranking. They might look weak on paper but I can assure you it is nothing like that. We have to be at our best, respect them as we should but put in our very best. I believe we have the team to get a result in Togo. If we get a good result against them it will boost our confidence going into the second leg’’. The Cranes talisman warned.

In the same vein, Coach Sredejovic Milutin ‘Micho’ has challenged the players to “fight for their country in the two back to back 2018 FIFA Russia World Cup qualifier encounters against Togo.

I’m really impressed with player’s dedication and commitment they have exhibited since we started training on Friday. I beg my players not fear Togo but respect them! These are human beings like anyone else. The Serbian said.
‘’We know them and we know they will want to attack more in order to finish the game there.
I just hope we rise up to the challenge on Thursday’’. He added.

The cranes are expected to depart for Lome on Wednesday aboard a chartered plane to faceoff with the home side on the 12^th of November before hosting the Hawks two days later in the reverse fixture at Nambole.

The winner over two legs will make the group stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the Africa zone.

Players in Camp

Alitho James, Robert Odongkara, Okot Denis , Isaac Isinde, Ivan Bukenya, Isaac Muleme, Dennis Iguma, Murushid Juuko, Shafik Bakaki, Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito, Tony Mawejje, Moses Oloya, Luwaga Kizito William, Yasser Mugerwa, Joseph Ochaya, Ceaser Okhuti, Hamis Diego Kiiza, Brian Umony, Miya Farouk, Ntege Ivan, Keziron Kizito, Geoffrey Massa, Mutyaba Muzamiru

Vicent Kakooza