Student outwits teacher as KCCA lose to Vipers

KCCA’s evergreen striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma pulls the trigger after beating Vipers’ new recruit Hassan Wasswa to the ball at Lugogo on Friday. Photo by Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

  • Deus Bukenya and Keziron Kizito, his team seemed to surprise their opponents.
  • In the end, KCCA managed a late consolation through striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma but there could be no denying who was the better team.

KAMPALA. As a coach, Abdallah Mubiru cut his teeth under Mike Mutebi. After his final playing stint at Military Police at the turn of the century, it was Mutebi who took Mubiru to schools’ football giants Kibuli SS where he spent the last decade.
During that period, Mubiru was also part of the coaching staff as KCCA won the Uganda Cup in 2004 before taking full charge at Proline and rising through the ranks again at KCCA.
He was then later sacked before the start of last season to pave way for his mentor after losing the dressing room. “Ugandan players are talented but not tactically disciplined,” Mubiru has often complained.

In his first game against his mentor and former team KCCA on Friday at Phillip Omondi Stadium and particularly in that first half, Mubiru could have had few complaints.
His team were more aggressive and seemed to grasp what appeared like a 4-3-3 formation with particularly Brian Kakaire tormenting the opponents’ right back Dennis Okot.
After reverting from a two-man central midfield against Lweza in their previous game to fielding Hassan Wasswa, Deus Bukenya and Keziron Kizito, his team seemed to surprise their opponents. “We were non existent in the first half but credit to the team for their second half performance,” Mutebi said after the game in which Tony Odur and Bukenya scored against his side. Mutebi’s team were 2-0 down at the break and could have actually conceded up to five goals had striker Odur been more ruthless.

In the end, KCCA managed a late consolation through striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma but there could be no denying who was the better team.
Mutebi’s deputy, Morley Byekwaso, admitted that they were outran, outplayed and outthought in all tactical aspects by Mubiru and colleagues.
Mubiru’s assistants George ‘Best’ Nsimbe and John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda also have inside knowledge of KCCA having worked at Lugogo in the past.
“Vipers have been sending scouts to spy on our games and training sessions and that is why they had all the answers to our game plan,” added Byekwaso. “They knew that we attack mostly through the wings and they employed Nicholas Wadada to stop Brian Majwega (substituted on 30 minutes for Paul Musamali) while their left back Aggrey Madoi never gave Paul Mucureezi any breathing space.”

Mubiru, hitherto under pressure for lukewarm performances, chose KCCA, a side that acrimoniously axed him last year, to show the Doubting Thomases that Vipers are genuine title contenders. “The win is a great relief to me and the entire team and it showed our ability to compete with the league’s best,” Mubiru said. KCCA remain top of the table on 18 points with Vipers on 15.

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