Uganda Revenue Authority’s Savio Kabugo admits he is disappointed to have missed out on a place in Uganda’s latest squad but will work harder to make the next one.
The 21-man national sqaud was on Wednesday announced by Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic to prepare for a friendly against Zimbabwe and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana in Gaborone on June 4.
Savio who is most remembered for his winner against the Black Stars of Ghana at Namboole in 2014 spent almost a year out of active football because of injury. He hasn’t been called up this season and was also ignored when Uganda took part in the 2016 CHAN Championships earlier this year in Kigali, Rwanda.
Micho has instead summoned five defenders including Kabugo’s best friend and former SC Victoria University teammate Murushid Jjuuko who now plays semiprofessional football in Tanzania with Simba FC.
“Obviously I would have liked to be on the list. I’ve been working hard all year since I saw I had the chance to return to the Cranes. I’m sad not to have gone but it’s a happy time because there are only a few days until I play for something important with my club,” he said, referring to URA’s second last league game on May 24th against rivals Vipers in Buikwe.
Kabugo was a pillar in all the six group matches Uganda played as they tried to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals. The Cranes now need maximum points against Botswana and Comoros in September to guarantee a place in Gabon next January.
“Hopefully I’ll have more opportunities with the national team throughout my life and I’m at the disposition of the Coach when he needs me. I think it was difficult for the Coach, because we’re fortunate in Uganda that we have great players and some had to be left out.
“Each person would come up with a different list but the Coach is Micho and I have a lot to be grateful to him for because he gave me my senior debut and many more great games for my country. I will fight to be in the next squad.”
Uganda Cranes defenders vs Zimbabwe and Botswana: Denis Guma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Al Shorta, Iraq) and Joseph Ochaya (KCCA)
