Uganda and South Africa have met four times previously including World Cup qualifiers, a friendly, and at the invitational COSAFA Cup.
In this article, we focus on the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers played in 2004 and 2005 as we remember the Uganda Cranes players who were involved.
The first leg of this Germany World Cup qualifier was played in October, 2004 at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole won 1-0 by the Bafana Bafana through Ben McCarthy’s penalty kick.
Uganda Cranes’ Starting XI: Posnet Omwony (GK), Timothy Batabaire, Nestroy Kizito, Ibrahim Ssekagya, Assani Bajope, James Odoch, Muhamad Nsubuga, Fred Okello, Phillip Ssozi, Robert Ssentongo, David Obua
Then head coach Mohammed Abbas made three changes introducing Hakim Magumba, Hassan Mubiru, and Peter Lwebuga for Ssozi, Ssentongo, and Okello, respectively.
South Africa would later host Uganda at the FNB Stadium now Soccer City Stadium grabbing yet another victory 2-1 through Quinton Fortune and Steven Pienaar.
Fortune scored from a penalty before David Obua converted from the same for Uganda’s equalizer and later Pienaar earned all the three points for the Bafana Bafana.
Cranes head coach Abbas made a whopping six changes from his starting lineup from the first leg played in Kampala.
Tenywa Bonseu, Dan Obote, Emmanuel Balyejjusa, Simeon Masaba, Geoffrey Sserunkuma, and Mubiru started.
Omony, Ssekagya, Kizito, Batabaire, and Obua are the five players that retained their places in the starting lineup.
The likes of Okello and Ssentongo were relegated to the bench whilst Bajjope, Odoch, Nsubuga, Ssozi, and Lwebuga were not summoned.
Johnson Bagoole, Lawrence Segawa, and David Kalungi were introduced in the game for Bonseu, Sserunkuma, and Obote, apiece.
All these players have since retired with the exception of Geoffrey Sserunkuma who is currently playing in StarTimes Uganda Premier League for NEC.
Despite retirement, some are still active in the game of football serving in different capacities in different institutions.
Ssekagya is an assistant manager at Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls in the United States of America.
Odoch is also serving in the same capacity with UPL outfit NEC, Mubiru recently worked as a coach at Express.
Omony is also pursuing a coaching career whereas Obua was sacked by URA recently.
Uganda and South Africa will meet again in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where they’re in Group K with South Sudan and Congo Brazzaville.
Hugo Broos’s side will host Paul Joseph Put’s charges in the first leg at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Friday, September 6.
