Mixed Caf fortunes for SC Vipers, KCCA
Relegated: Vipers’ journey in the Caf Champions League was brutally ended with a home loss on Saturday. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
Soccer. It was not the result Ugandan champions wanted when they were relegated to the Caf Champions League after an abysmal performance at home when they lost 2-0 to Algeria’s CS Constantine and crash out 3-0 on aggregate yet Uganda Cup champions, KCCA, are home and dry after beating Mtibwa Sugar home and away. Both teams will now battle in the Confederation Cup.
While Vipers huffed and puffed, they fell in a devastating fashion, losing 2-0 at their St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende which was partially rushed to bready for the CAF Champions League games. There has been some good news though. Vipers retained their continental status but they fall into the Confederation Cup where KCCA have been in scintillating form looking at how they eliminated Tanzania’s Mtibwa Sugar.
Harmless venom
It was a typical case of a one-sided contest. Vipers were just second best in every aspect as they lost 2-0 to Algerian champions CS Constantine.
Needing a 2-0 win to advance after falling 1-0 in Algiers a week ago, Vipers coach Javier Martinez did not only lack the approach to get the goals but also composure and precision to match the visitors.
Vice-captain Geoffrey Wasswa was largely the shining star for Vipers that had forwards Dan Sserunkuma, Noah Wafula and Tito Okello putting up an ordinanry performance. Constantine French coach Denis Lavagne, revealed Vipers’ main undoing.
“We were nervous in the first half but over the two legs, we were better. Vipers had only one chance to score in 180 minutes,” he said.
This stage in the Caf Champions League requires your big players to stand up to the occasion and Vipers failed to achieve that from Moses Waiswa, Sserunkuma, Okello and Brian Nkuubi. Forget the ruthlessness KCCA applied to Magreb teams at home in the past two campaigns, Vipers surrendered possession, vitality and ran out of ideas even when the fans tried to shout their lungs out.
Before Adil Djabout put the Algerians in a comfortable lead on 64 minutes and Mohamed Walid Bencherifa killing off the contest on 70 minutes, they had twice threatened to break the deadlock only for stand-in teenage goalkeeper Derrick Ochan to stand tall.
If anything, the two headed goals showed that Martinez had learned nothing and forgotten nothing and was further betrayed by his suspect substitutions and shaky defence.
Easy for KCCA
KCCA have been forced to break a few mental barriers over the past two seasons as they sought to re-establish themselves as a reasonable force on the continent. This included a first ever elimination of a Maghreb side when they ousted Egyptian side Al Masry before beating Club Africain in the Caf Con-federation Cup also last year.
Last season they followed up those results by beating eight-time Caf Champions League record champions 2-0 at Namboole All that was however achieved without an away win despite some decent performances on their first appearance in the Champions League group stages. In their first continental tie this season, KCCA finally broke that barrier by claiming a 2-1 away win against Tanzanian side Mtibwa Sugar on Saturday.
Two goals by KCCA were enough to earna 2-1 win over Tanzanian side Mtibwa Sugar during the return leg of the Caf Confederation cup to seal a 5-1 aggregate win.
“We were asked some questions by Mtibwa and we an-swered well. It’s a good plus and gives us more confidence going forward,” an elated Mutebi said. They now await the draws for the final playoff round that will be conducted on Friday.
