Lukwago readies for busy night out

Safe hands. Lukwago travelled with the team for their away engagements but could only watch from the bench. Photo by John Batanudde.

What you need to know:

  • Cautious. Lukwago knows the hosts, who thrashed KCCA’s opening match tormetors Township Rollers 4-1, will bring the game to the visitors.

KAMPALA. Charles Lukwago has been learning from a vintage point of view.
For most of last season’s continental assignments with KCCA, he sat on the bench and watched Benjamin Ochan do his thing in goal.
Ochan, who stopped Al Masry in a penalty shootout in Egypt, was so good he was among the club’s top three performers that season alongside Geoffrey Sserunkuma and Muzamiru Mutyaba.

Lukwago did travel with KCCA for their away engagements but could only watch from the bench his teammates being shredded in Rabat and Tunis as Fus and Club Africain dismissed the Ugandans.
However, when he got his chance in Kampala against Rabat, he applied himself well in the 3-1 victory over the Moroccans at Lugogo.

But with Ochan long moved on, Lukwago will be on the spotlight as he makes his away debut against North African opposition when KCCA face Tunisian giants Esperance in the Caf Champions League tomorrow.
“It’s going to be a very tough game for both teams but we are looking forward to it,” Lukwago told Daily Monitor before the team flew out at the weekend.

Lukwago knows the hosts, who thrashed KCCA’s opening match tormetors Township Rollers 4-1, will bring the game to the visitors.
Actually, his department will require Sadam Juma and company to strengthen the protective layer in front of Timothy Awany and Bernard Muwanga before they can then think of hitting on the break.

“We are aware of their strengths. We shall also capitalise on our potential.
“The good thing is that all those departments you have mentioned have great experience.
“We shall do our best to match them and get a good result.” Lukwago believes he has greatly improved “in my game reading and positioning.”

But what a task he and teammates have in Tunisia!
Let alone Mike Mutebi not winning away in open play since joining the club three years ago, KCCA and Uganda have never won in a competitive match against North opposition in their backyard.
Esperance top Group A on four points while KCCA are third on three and Al Ahly bottom on one.

Group a statistics
Esperance vs KCCA, 10pm
Al Ahly vs Township Rollers, 10pm
Group A’s last results
KCCA 2-0 Al Ahly
Esperance 4-1 Township Rollers
Group A table
Table P W D L F A Pts
Esperance 2 1 1 0 4 1 4
Township 2 1 0 1 2 4 3
KCCA 2 1 0 1 2 1 3
Al Ahly 2 0 1 1 0 2 0