Teenager Okello sparkles in Ondu obliteration

Special gem. KCCA must wrap Okello in cotton wool to protect him from the trappings of fame. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

What you need to know:

The boy is extremely talented but we need to do our part of as coaches to protect him not to get spoilt,” stated KCCA assistant Morley Byekwaso of Okello, an MVP at the Copa Coca Cola

KAMPALA.

Plans for a major uplift to have KCCA’s home ground fittingly become the Phillip Omondi Stadium are in the pipeline.
In the meantime though, it could well pass off as training ground unfit to accommodate large numbers.

For the third time this season, scenes off the pitch threatened to overshadow scintillating performances on it as the club struggled to accommodate the thousands of fans from that thronged the venue.
From Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic to club legend Tom Lwanga no one was spared the hustle as a number of fans and journalists were locked out.

When the action eventually got underway, the game was always going to be about Allan Okello an 18-year-old left footed attacking midfielder given his debut by coach Mike Mutebi.
The youngster, an MVP at last year’s Copa Coca Cola and ARS youth tournaments, scored a hattrick as leaders KCCA romped to a 7-0 thrashing of Onduparaka.

His inclusion not only surprised those in the crowd but the opposition who were guilty of several school boy errors on the day.
“The boy is extremely talented but we need to do our part of as coaches to protect him not to get spoilt,” stated KCCA assistant Morley Byekwaso of Okello, an MVP at the Copa Coca Cola.

Starting alongside Muzamir Mutyaba and Ivan Ntege in a three man mid field, the 18 year old Kibuli SS student punished careless Onduparaka defending from Mutyaba’s freekick to give KCCA a 10th minute lead.

He then turned provider eight minutes later when he played in Robert Sentongo with a delightful chip behind the static Onduparaka defense for the second.

“In every department we did not function and the opponents took advantage of their experience in the league,” Onduparaka coach Leo Adraa said of his team’s performance.

There were two further goals before the break with a Paul Musamali header and a fine Ivan Ntege run being side footed home by Okello for a 4-0 half time lead. In the second half Sentongo completed his brace before the customary Geoffrey Sserunkuma goal made it six before hell broke loose in the stands. A seven minute break however threatened to ruin his day when the game was halted as a small group of KCCA fans took advantage of a directive to open the gates provoking the visiting fans. A stone throwing exchange ensured that left some injured and many scampering for safety before order was restored seven minutes later after pleas mainly from both sets of players.

Okello, however, ensured the day belonged to him with the youngster completing the first hatrick in the league this season with a low shot as his team moved to 38 points nine points clear of their third placed opponents.

“The coaches told me it was my day and not to panic put myself under pressure and to make sure I combine with my teammates,” a seemingly unaffected Okello remarked after the game.