FOOTBALL–Onduparaka have included want-away striker Muhammad Shaban in a 31-man squad released by the Caterpillars a head of the new 2017/2018 league season.
While the squad was bursting at the seams with new faces the inclusion of the unsettled striker struck a chord with Caterpillars fans.
Shaban’s future at Green Light Stadium diminished into uncertainty following a fall out with the club administration.
At the height of the fallout, the club stripped Shaban of captaincy and subsequently appointed Rashid Toha as new skipper with Alex Adriko Gasper, Denis Andama and Gaddafi Muhammad the assistants.
Since then, Shaban’s desire to leave the Caterpillars this off-season became a public secret noticeable in various interviews and social media posts where he relayed apparent openness to leave .
The club, for their part, rebuffed initial overtures from local clubs and only insisted to do business with suitors abroad.
Following unsuccessful trials with South African giants SuperSport United last month, the striker’s chances of leaving Green Light Stadium wore thin, and sources indicate that he had no choice but to stay put.
Vipers SC were reportedly monitoring Shaban’s uncertain future with keen interest as they were desperately seeking alternatives to bolster their striking force.
But the cold-shoulder treatment the player received during his first spell with the Kitende-based side returned to shatter the slimmest of hopes for the deal to crystallise.
Champions KCCA were also rumoured to have picked interested in working the striker as replacement for Geoffrey Sserunkuma after the veteran striker went for greener pastures with Zambian outfit Buildco FC.
Shaban scored 13 league goals for the Arua-based outfit last season to steer Onduparaka to respectable 5th place finish in their UPL debut season, and despite altercations with his bosses, he was at the heart of everything good the Caterpillars achieved in the season.
The released squad
1. Ssebwato Nicholas(42)
2. Anyama Richard(32)
3. Orom Benson (25)
4. Adriko Alex Gasper (17)
5. Aniku Soso (3)
6. Kasozi Bob (35)
7. Kirya Aggrey(6)
8. Andama Denis (30)
9. Saddam Norman (18)
10. Okocha Rashid (15)
11. Gibson Adinho (33)
12. Simba Sabir(2)
13. Toha Rashid (12)
14. Muhammad Rashid (24)
15. Ibrahim Faizol (4)
16. Ajobe Toto Mahdi ( 5)
17. Kakooza Rajab(16)
18. Mboowa Ivan (31)
19. Gaddafi Wahab (11)
20. Gaddafi Muhammad (7)
21. Ssekajugo Viane (20)
22 .Ndugwa Karim (8)
23. Kabon Living (13)
24. Muhammad Shaban (9)
25. OKhuti Ceaser (28)
26. Rashid Ayub Agau (10)
27. Okwir Dickens (19)
28. Busobozi Allan (22)
29. Bida Ezra Rashid (21)
30. Leku Alfred (42)
31. Olega Ceaser (14)
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