Tanzanian-based striker Hamis Deigo Kizza has expressed disappointment at being overlooked for Uganda’s latest 21-man squad, despite ending the season as the second-highest goalscorer in the Vodacom Premier League.
Kizza is the most active of the Cranes’ forwards. His 19 goals at Simba helped to steer the mainland giants to third place. Instead captain Geoffrey Massa has either not been fit or not selected at his South African outfit Bloemfontein Celtic and is expected to be shown the exit door in a few weeks’ time.
Uganda head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Serdojevic, however, chose youth over experience in his 21-man squad for the international build up against Zimbabwe on Sunday, 29th May 2016 before the Group D AFCON 2017 qualifier against Botswana, including 21-year-old SV Werder Bremen winger/striker Melvyn Lorenzen at the expense of the 26-year-old Kizza.
“To be honest I’ve always loved representing my country Uganda whenever summoned and always thought that getting into a Cranes squad before a qualifier is based on merit,” Kizza said.
“I just feel like I’ve done everything that I could do so obviously, when you’re not in the squad, it’s a disappointment.”
Uganda has only two games left against Botswana and Comoros in the current campaign. Their last engagement was a morale-sapping goalless draw with Burkina Faso at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyanyo (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Ondongkara (St George, Ethiopia), Salim Jamal Magola (El Merriekh, Sudan)
Defenders: Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Al Shorta, Iraq),
Midfielders: Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids), Moses Oloya (Becamex Binh Duong, Vietnam), Aucho Khalid (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Tonny Mawejje (Thottur, Iceland), William Kizito Luwagga (Feirense, Portugal), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
Strikers: Geofrey Massa (Bloemfontein Celtics, South Africa), Emmanuel Okwi (Sondyerske, Denmark), Lorenzen Melvyn (Werder Bremen, Germany), Farouk Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Davis Kasirye (Rayon Sports, Rwanda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers, Uganda)
