KAMPALA: Coach Sam Ssimbwa is gearing up for the challenge of clinching his first-ever FUFA Super Eight trophy. The former coach of KCCA FC, URA FC, and Express FC was recently given the chance to lead the Uganda Cranes Select Team in the FUFA Super Eight tournament, competing against league champions SC Villa, Uganda Cup holders Kitara FC, Vipers SC, BUL FC, Maroons FC, and NEC FC.
The FUFA Super Eight serves as a curtain-raiser for the upcoming 2024-25 football season. The tournament kicks off on Friday, August 2, with Maroons FC taking on BUL FC and Vipers SC facing NEC FC at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. The Cranes Select Team is set to play SC Villa on Saturday, August 3, at Namboole Stadium.
Ssimbwa, who is also the assistant to Uganda Cranes’ head coach Paul Put, is determined to win the pre-season event. “We want to win it to boost our morale ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, and I’m happy with the attitude of these boys,” Ssimbwa stated on Thursday, July 25, after his side beat the Kyaggwe Ssaza Team 1-0 in a warm-up game at the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) playground in Nakawa. Richard Basangwa scored the lone winner.
The Uganda Cranes are scheduled to play against South Africa and Congo Brazzaville on September 2 and 10, respectively, in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Ssimbwa is optimistic that the tournament will help players shake off the rust after the two-month break.