KCCA banking on returning trio to eject African Stars
Mutyaba will be asked to offer leadership to KCCA’s attack. PHOTOS BY EDDIE CHICCO & JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
- Mutebi says he welcomes the ‘selection dilemma’ in his camp.
- He has however cautioned young defenders Samuel Kato and Peter Magambo not to commit the same school boy errors that gifted the opposition the three goals.
Hitherto injured attack-minded players Jackson Nunda, Gift Ali and Mustapha Kizza are ready to boost KCCA’s goal hunt ahead of the must win clash with Namibian giants African Stars this afternoon at StarTimes Stadium-Lugogo.
Adventurous midfielders Nunda and Gift played no part in KCCA’s 3-2 away loss to the Namibian side a fortnight ago while Kizza leaped off the pitch after just a few minutes.
KCCA manager Mike Mutebi is particularly elated by the timely return of versatile Ali who he believes would have changed the tide of the game in Windhoek had he been available.
“Sadam Juma is definitely out but with Ali back, we are going to be stronger,” disclosed Mutebi.
Squad depth
“We have the required squad depth and we are raring to go,” added the KCCA tutor while down-playing striker Patrick Kaddu’s absence.
Kaddu netted for KCCA in the first leg but has since moved on to Morocco leaving the baton to youngster Sadan Anaku.
“That Kaddu is out that doesn’t mean we are going to change our style, we are going to play our attacking football and goodness me, and even our opponents play the same way. We may use our home advantage to see that we win,” Mutebi added.
The former Uganda Cranes coach acknowledges the pressure that may come with KCCA failing to make it to the group stages on the bounce but he is ready to exploit African Stars’ strength to get victory.
“They play with a free mind and are team that wants to attack. It makes me happy to play such a team. It makes it easy for us.”
Mutebi says he welcomes the ‘selection dilemma’ in his camp.
He has however cautioned young defenders Samuel Kato and Peter Magambo not to commit the same school boy errors that gifted the opposition the three goals.
Game of uncertainties
His counterpart Muhammad Fargo believes the Lugogo atmosphere and the pitch will give them the room they need to succeed.
“I am aware of KCCA’s good home record but football is a game of uncertainties. African Stars also have a good record but it will be down to how prepared our minds are. We gave KCCA free goals in the first leg but we are confident of getting more goals here,” Fargo stressed.
The match will be officiated by Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail, Omer Hamid Mohammed Ahmed and Haitham Elnour Ahmed from Sudan.
The winner of today’s clash will progress to take on either Metlama of Comoros or Angola’s Petro de Luanda at the next round.
