KCCA coach Nsimbe sticking to proven successful formula
Striker Tony Odur, who scored one of the two goals during the first leg in Omdurman last Saturday, polishes his shooting skills earlier this week at Lugogo. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
El Merreikh secured a 1-0 victory the last time the two sides met here in 2009, before going on to record 2-1 on aggregate victory after KCC forced a stalemate in Sudan.
Kampala- KCCA coach George ‘Best’ Nsimbe does not plan to change his side’s approach for today’s return leg against El Merreikh in the Caf Champions League preliminary round at Namboole stadium.
The two teams meet for the second time in a week with KCCA in a seemingly comfortable position after strikers Herman Wasswa and Tony Odur gave the Lugogo-based side a 2-0 first leg lead in Omdurman last Saturday.
“I have been playing the same formation since the Mapinduzi Cup and it has proved to be a success. So, I see no reason to change it,” a confident Nsimbe told Saturday Monitor.
He employed the 4-3-3 formation during the first leg in Omdurman with three central midfielders; Ivan Ntege, Ghadafi Kiwanuka and Tom Matsiko playing behind Tony Odur, William Wadri and Herman Wasswa.
That reward for playing fearless football was two goals in the first half hour of the game with the defence also managing to hold out for a clean sheet that included a saved penalty from goalkeeper Salim Jamal.
As a result Nsimbe reckons that a change in personnel rather than formation will be required if his side are to progress to the next round.
Similar personnel
“Maybe one or two players will change. But we don’t want to alter the formation,” he added.
Similar personnel for today’s game will mean that Brian Majwega starts the game on the bench. The winger missed the Mapinduzi Cup because of his involvement with the Cranes and Nsimbe says it has been difficult for him to reclaim his place.
“The team played really well while in Zanzibar and it is has become difficult for anyone to get in,” he explained. Also likely to join Majwega on the bench is Steven Bengo, who struggled all week with a thigh strain. But Bengo remains an oddo on favourite to play a role in the game. Meanwhile El Merreikh’s coach Michael Kruger has promised a better show.
“The whole team had a bad outing but we cannot afford that now. We shall definitely be better and hopefully it will be enough for us to qualify,” he said.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
Salim Jamal (Goalkeeper), Ssaka Mpiima, Habib Kavuma, Ibrahim Kizza, Fahad Kawooya (c), Ivan Ntege, Gadaffi Kiwanuka, Tom Matsiko, Tony Odur, Herman Wasswa, William Wadri.
FACTS
- KCCA won one of three home games at their last continental campaign.
- KCCA were unbeaten in their three away games
- Recorded a similar 2-0 result in their first leg against Ferroviário Maputo in 2009.
