Ugandan tests arranged for Stars

Accra, May 5, GNA - Ghana's Black Stars will engage the Cranes of Uganda in an international friendly later this month ahead of next month's double-decker 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Stars are scheduled to play the Eagles of Mali on June 6 in Bamako and two weeks later trek to Omdurman as guests of the Desert Hawks of Sudan.

Fred Pappoe, Vice-President of Ghana Football Association (GFA) told the GNA Sports in Accra on Tuesday that the clash which is expected to fine-tune the Stars preparations for the two matches has been slated for the last weekend of May possibly at the Tamale sports stadium. "We are in talks with Uganda for a friendly between the two sides later this month. "Discussions between the two parties have reached an advanced stage and we hope to formalize contractual issues by the close of the week." Pappoe who is also Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee added that the Uganda game will serve as a good test for the Stars ahead of the crucial away games.

The Cranes are not involved in the final rounds of the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations, but the GFA Vice-President insists they will pose a good test. The match will afford Stars coach Milovan Rajevac an opportunity to have a fair idea of his team ahead of the crucial away games. The Serbian is expected to parade the full complement of his team since most major European Leagues will reach the final lap in a fortnight.

The Stars opened their Group D account with a lone goal victory over the Squirrels of Benin last month at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. The last time the two sides met was on September 4, 2005 when the Stars beat the Cranes 2-0 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the penultimate clash of the FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany. It will be the seventh ever meeting between the two sides. Each side has won twice with the rest ending in stalemates.