Umony counsels KCCA on Onyango, Sundowns

Onyango could miss Sundowns-KCCA clash

What you need to know:

  • The Uganda Cranes striker scored the winner at Nakivubo when the then KCC beat Onyango’s SuperSport 2-1 before eventually ejecting them following a 1-1 draw in Jo’burg.

Kampala. Images of a young Brian Umony wheel away in celebration after scoring the winner against SuperSport United in 2009 came to mind once KCCA confirmed a date with Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
Then, after setting up Robert Ssentongo to cancel out Anthony Laffor’s 47th minute strike, Umony latched onto Benjamin Ochan’s long goal kick to beat Denis Onyango to the ball to head into empty net. Umony and company went on to complete in job in Johannesburg. “The fondest memory is the fact that against all odds the underdog team progressed,” Umony, currently rehabilitating from a career threatening injury picked in action for his Ethiopian club, St George, early last year, told Daily Monitor yesterday, “We had a good team that stuck together.”

KCCA will hope for similar fortunes when they travel to Pretoria next month after Geoffrey Sserunkuma’s away goal in the 2-1 defeat to Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto on Sunday saw the Ugandans progress to the first round of the Caf Champions League on away goals rule.
Sserunkuma’s earlier goal in the 1-0 first leg victory ensured manager Mike Mutebi’s men progressed 2-2.
KCCA will now have to eliminate African champions Onyango and Sundowns if they are to reach the lucrative group stage.
Of course a lot has changed since the then KCC’s fairytale run in 2009; Umony joining Onyango at SuperSport before having stops at other South African clubs, then going to Portland Timbers in the USA, Vietnam, back to KCCA and on to St George.

Laffor has also since relocated to Sundowns. Onyango, too, has since gone to Mpumalanga Black Aces, served at the Sundowns bench before finally claiming his rightful place as number one. Umony will definitely not face Onyango next month, but the latter and Laffor will again come face to face with KCCA, goalkeeper Ochan and striker Ssentongo, who they last faced in SuperSport colours.
Having been the main executioner then, and one who continues to partake and follow these events, Umony offers a measured counsel to KCCA ahead of the clash with Sundowns.
“To be honest Sundowns are a much stronger side that have heavily invested in their squad,” the soft-spoken striker explained, “And they are not league (PSL), Champions League and Super Cup champions by accident.