Reports: Okwi, Walusimbi Ruled Out Of CHAN

Football - 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifier - Uganda Vs Angola - Mandela Stadium - Namboole - KampalaBarely a week after Cranes’ penalty shoot-out loss to Tanzania in the GOtv Cecafa Cup quarterfinal that ended Uganda’s two-year reign but most importantly, but as the team needs to pick up the pieces as they prepare for next month’s African Nations Championship, our snoops can reveal that senior players striker Emmanuel Okwi and fullback Geoffrey Walusimbi have been ruled out of the CHAN tournament in South Africa by CAF.

CAF was responding to an earlier request by FUFA for clarification on the two players in regard to their inclusion on the CHAN bound team. Only local-based players can feature in the tournament.

The duo feature for Sports Club Villa, Uganda’s most decorated club in the FUFA Super League and Walusimbi, deserted DR Congo club Don Bosco a few months ago, was lucky that the world governing body FIFA cleared him to play again after the DR Congo FA failed to explain his issue with Don Bosco with whom he is still under contract but will not let him play in South Africa.

He transferred to Don Bosco early this year for over $100,000, but failed to settle with the club, claiming they were not fulfilling the contractual obligation.

And likewise Okwi rejoined Uganda’s SC Villa after he complained to FIFA that Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel was not fulfilling their contractual obligation.

Okwi rubbished talk that he needs to complete six months with SC Villa as FIFA ordered.  “I am a free player and playing for SC Villa is simply to keep fit,” he told RedPepper Online edition in a phone chat when asked about his contract details.

For now, Micho needs to correct the wrongs before Uganda’s Chan opener against Burkina Faso on January 12, 2014 and that leaves the Serb with Francis Olaki (Soana FC), Simon Okwi (SC Victoria University), Yunus Ssentamu (Vipers FC) and Frank Kalanda (URA) as the main striking options while Isaac Muleeme and KCCA’s Ayub Kisalita will come handy at left-back.

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