Capradossi commission from Cranes squad raises more questions

Elio Capradossi

Uganda Cranes defender Elio Capradossi’s international future is becoming increasingly uncertain after he was again omitted from coach Paul Joseph Putt’s latest squad.

Putt has attributed the defender’s absence to injury, but the circumstances surrounding Capradossi’s latest omission are likely to keep the debate alive, particularly after a difficult period in which his place in the national team has become less certain.

Capradossi was not involved when Uganda played at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, despite being part of the squad that helped the Cranes qualify for the tournament.

At the time, there were reports that Capradossi had been involved in a heated disagreement with Fufa officials over promised payments to the players following qualification.

The federation was reportedly unhappy with the players’ demand for the money, with the situation allegedly being viewed as indiscipline. However, people who were in the Cranes camp at the time offered a different explanation for his absence.

They indicated that Capradossi had suffered an injury while training ahead of the group game against Tunisia. That episode has continued to hang over his international career, although there has never been an official confirmation that the defender was dropped because of the payment dispute.

The latest development has raised fresh questions. Putt says Capradossi is injured, but on Monday, September 7, the defender was named among the substitutes for his Romanian
club Universitatea Cluj in their 0-4 top-flight defeat.

Uganda’s latest squad was announced two days later. Whether Capradossi was carrying an injury, recovering from one or simply not ready for international duty remains unclear.

Capradossi is not the only notable absentee from the latest squad. Salim Jamal, Uche Ikpeazu, John Paul Dembe, Rogers Bobosi Byaruhanga and Jude Ssemugabi were also left out.

Putt explained that some of the players are currently without clubs or have recently completed transfers and therefore lack sufficient playing time. Others, he said, have only recently returned from lengthy injuries and are yet to regain full match rhythm.

For Capradossi, however, the issue carries greater significance because of his previous importance to the Cranes and the circumstances surrounding his last major international
involvement.

Uganda now turns to a demanding international window, beginning with an away meeting against Tunisia on September 24, followed by Libya in Hoima on September 29. The Cranes will then face DR Congo in two friendly matches on October 2 and 5.

Four matches offer Putt an opportunity to reshape his squad and test alternatives. They also leave Capradossi with a narrowing window to convince the coach that he still belongs in Uganda’s plans.

For now, Putt’s official explanation is injury. But with Capradossi repeatedly absent, the bigger question is whether this is merely another temporary setback—or the beginning of the end of his Cranes journey.

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