Township Rollers edge KCCA in Caf encounter
Down but not out: KCCA players Kizza and Awany must pick themselves up for the home game against Egyptian giants Al-Alhy to be played on May 15. PHOTO BY I. Kezaala
What you need to know:
- Until KCCA resort to another formula of winning away games, their further qualification on the continent will also remain a distant dream.
- Their 46 percent ball possession and 10 corners did little to stop a compact Township Rollers from gaining a 1-0 opening victory in the Caf Champions League tie played at Botswana National Stadium on Friday night.
KAMPALA. Until KCCA resort to another formula of winning away games, their further qualification on the continent will also remain a distant dream.
Their 46 percent ball possession and 10 corners did little to stop a compact Township Rollers from gaining a 1-0 opening victory in the Caf Champions League tie played at Botswana National Stadium on Friday night. KCCA have now gone 10 matches without a win on foreign soil on the continent with the 0-0 draw away to St George in Addis Ababa, the best thus far. Mike Mutebi’s side may have downplayed the impact of former player Ivan Ntege but he turned out to be the game changer.
First, the workaholic Township Rollers midfield spoiler cleared a goal- bound shot from KCCA winger Julius Poloto.
Secondly, he ignited the move from deep that ended with Lemponye Tshireletso superbly rounding off the visitors’ stand-in custodian Thomas Ikhara on 36 minutes to give the Blues the deserved lead.
Ntege, who departed Lugogo in July, bossed the midfield and had former colleagues Isaac Kirabira, Allan Okello, Jackson Nunda and Lawrence Bukenya chasing shadows and looking on in awe.
“The boys (KCCA) are good and they should keep on fighting. They put on pressure in the second half but it was hard for them. I thank God for the good result,” the steely midfield anchor said after an industrious show against a side he called home for seven years.
Then again, the attacking duo of Joel Mogorosi and Tshireletso stretched KCCA’s backline of Filbert Obenchan, Timothy Awany, Paul Musamali and Mustapha Kizza to the limit putting across a message of the daunting task ahead for the Kasasiro Boys against more proficient Magreb clubs in the group.
With two shots on goal from 11 attempts, KCCA’s missed chances came from substitute Derrick Nsibambi, Kizza and when Obenchan hit the bar.
Okello, still struggling to shine outside the confines of Lugogo, believes KCCA are still in it but called for doubled efforts when Al Ahly visit Namboole on May 15.
