KCC face Azam in semi-final
KCC captain Tom Masiko is hoping to lift the Cecafa trophy that eluded his father in his playing days at Lugogo. Photo by Eddie Chicco
Dar es salaam- KCC haven’t been in the finals of the Cecafa Kagame Cup since 1979, after winning their first the previous year.
None of the current playing staff at KCC was born by 1979, managers Mike Mutebi and his assistant Sam Ssimbwa were eight and 12 years respectively.
Even Charles Baker Masiko, the longest serving KCC captain (1984-1995) never had a chance of playing in the final of the regional showpiece.
His son, and current captain Tom Masiko and his troop have a chance of breaking the 36-year wait if they can defeat Azam in their semifinal game at the Tanzania National Stadium.
“That’s a long time (1979) is a long time for a traditional club like KCC,” Masiko told Daily Monitor.
“These are moments we live for as footballers. Azam is a tough team, actually, the only team to beat us at here, but we are ready for the challenge,” he added.
Masiko is KCC’s leading scorer at the championship with two goals while the side have scored five in four games.
Three of those came in one game when they defeated Al Shandy 3-0 in their quarterfinal clash on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Emmanuel Opio is yet to concede a goal since his first start against Adama City.
“We need to give our best defensively and not give them (Azam) much freedom on the ball in front of our goal. Then make sure we utilize ours, we have what it takes to make the final,” Opio said.
In Azam, KCC play a side that hasn’t conceded a goal in eight straight matches and the Lugogo-based team will have to be on top of their game to break that record.
“KCC are a very strong side that keeps on improving every game, and we need to give them the respect they deserve. Our first result against them means absolutely nothing at this stage,” said Azam’s head coach Stewart Hall.
The other semi-final will see five-time winners Gor Mahia play Kwesi Appiah’s Khartoum, their last meeting in the group stages having ended in a barren draw.
In the event of a draw in normal time, there will be extra time.
In the quarter-finals, drawn matches went straight to shoot-outs with no extra time played.
Cecafa Kagame Cup Semifinals
1:45pm
Gor Mahia vs Khartoum SS3
4:15pm
Azam vs KCC SS3
