SC Victoria University must pick the positives
Narlin Landu of Don Bosco keeps the ball away from goal scorer Mathew Odong (23) of Victoria University, who was looking to nod it into the back of the net. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
What you need to know:
Having been their first continental outing under just five years since they came into existence, many pundits believe SCVU can only get better
KAMPALA- Sports Club Victoria University’s (SCVU) exit from the Caf Confederations Cup over the weekend may bring some feeling of discontent to club boss Simon Dubajic, coach Morley Byekwaso and his players.
But many football parties will be satisfied with the strides taken by SCVU, as the side has managed to play continental football less than five years since their initiation.
“They (SCVU) should not think that they haven’t done enough,” Cranes’ goal keeping coach Fred Kajoba told Daily Monitor after SCVU beat Don Bosco 1-0 courtesy of Matthew Odong’s 79th minute header at Namboole on Sunday.
The result meant Don Bosco advanced to the first round 3-1 on aggregate having won the first leg 3-0 at home in Lubumbashi nine days ago. Earlier last week, the Simba FC coach Kajoba had been hired to help in fine tuning SCVU’s goal keeping department prior to Sunday’s return leg.
Kajoba’s post match scorecard makes good reading as the day’s custodian Ali Kimera kept a clean sheet in the absence of injured first choice shot stopper Benjamin Ochan. And even in the failure of progressing, Kajoba believes the reigning Uganda Cup champions SCVU were only short of experience and can get better. “The boys played very well,” said Kajoba, also the head coach at Simba.
“They were good in the second half but inexperience undid them.
“For instance, trailing with such a margin of goals, they lacked the mental awareness for a vital early goal and they should have done better in the first half. “In all, the entire team must keep together as the early exit is a learning process for them.”
SCVU captain Martin Mpuuga, whose header hit the cross bar in the 58th minute, was pleased with the win.
“I am happy we bowed out with a win and didn’t concede a goal which is a stepping stone for us,” said Mpuuga. “We’ll work harder to return to this stage next year.”
Meanwhile, DR. Congo outfit Don Bosco, who were eliminated by South Africa’s SuperSport United at this stage last year, will now face Mali’s Djoliba with legs on the weekends of February 28–March 2 and March 7-9.
