Only 14 of the 34 summoned players showed up at Omondi stadium in Lugogo on Monday morning as Uganda Cranes kicked preparations for the South Africa friendly.
The Cranes will tussle it out with Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana on June 10.
The foreign-based stars, including the two goalkeepers Isma Watenga and Mathias Kigonya are not yet in the country.
None of the seven Vipers players on the team was present as the club intensify their preps for the upcoming Uganda Cup second round game with Villa on Wednesday. And
Express striker Eric Kambale did not report to camp but his captain Enock Walusimbi trained at Lugogo.
The session was handled by Coaches Abdallah Mubiru, Livingston Mbabazi and Fred Kajoba.
Coach Mubiru said that some of the missing players took their Covid19 tests late and their results are not yet out and so they could not risk including them in the session.
The training zeroed down to Seven-aside on a half-pitch as the on-field players tested goalkeepers Charles Lukwago and Simon Tamale.
The South Africa friendly will fine tune the team ahead of the upcoming 2022 World Cup Qualifiers where Uganda Cranes visit Kenya on September 1 before hosting Mali five days later.
Players that trained on Monday:
Goalkeepers – Charles Lukwago (KCCA) Simon Tamale (Bright Stars)
Defenders – Innocent Wafula (Mbarara), Walusimbi Enock (Express), Patrick Mbowa (URA), Kenneth Ssemakula (BUL) Hassan Muhamud (Police)
Midfielders – Ivan Sserubiru (URA), Bright Anukani (KCCA), Shafic Kagimu (URA), Steven Sserwadda (KCCA), Isma Mugulusi (Busoga United), Joseph Akandanwaho (Bright Stars)
Forwards – Derrick Kakooza (Police)