Covid-hit URA hold nerves in Caf draw

A cloud of uncertainty hovered over URA the moment Covid-19 ruled out 10 of their players and three coaches ahead of Saturday’s Caf Confederations Cup tie against Al Masry. 
All the match preps had been driven by predictions of what pivotal players like Shafik Kagimu, Cromwell Rwothomio, Steven Mukwala and Viane Ssekajugo would produce to fell the Egyptians Al Masry but they were all a no-show at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. 

Others missing included Hannington Ssebwalunyo, James Alitho, Livin Kabon, Juma Dada, Brian Nkuubi and Moses Sseruyidde.
Nonetheless, Sam Timbe’s charges laboured to a dour draw that they must build on in the return leg on Sunday in Port Said.
The match proper produced two tension-filled halves – the first dominated by the relentless visitors and the second having the tax collectors pressing for a home goal.
 
A tale of tense halves
With Davis Ssali, Ronald Kigongo and Ivan Sserubiri still getting to terms that they had got rare starting opportunities, URA were on the back foot and soon defender Najib Fesali was bringing down Amamchi Iwuji in the forbidden area. 
Ramadhan Mousa’s clipped the woodwork with the 13th minute penalty to give URA a sigh of relief. But not for Nafian Alionzi, who was a busy bee on the afternoon as Masry, desperate for an early away goal, bombarded him with an array of attacks.

They lived to die another day. Timbe’s team, limited to four subs on the bench without a backup goalkeeper, grew into the game in the second half and would have grabbed a goal had Kigongo been prolific and composed.
“I told the boys that something has happened to the family and the best way to honour absent players is by winning,” Timbe said.
“They had been training with us and we’re told at the last moment. This hurt the team psychologically.
“I told the boys to go and fight for the cause and I’m happy for the draw. We had a good defence and concentration.” 

Valiant effort
For larger spells of the match, it was visible that URA were not ready to wallow in self-pity of being depleted but rather throw whatever they had at Masry.
Stand-in skipper Paul Mbowa patrolled the midfield with finesse as the backline of Ashraf Mandela, Derrick Ndahiro, Fesali and Huud Mulikyi kept the lively Masry attack force of Emeka Eze, Islam Ahmed, Mohamed Abdelaal and Iwuji at bay.
Kyeyune and Sserubiri may have lacked Kagimu’s instinctive last ball delivery but they gallantly toiled in the midfield. Mukwala and Rwothomio’s pace and box awareness were dearly missed and Timbe will hope they overcome the Covidn scare.

“We need to polish on the tracking of the ball, fine-tune our passing and hope that the missing boys return in time. Otherwise we can also get a positive result away with the available players,” Timbe said.
Having eliminated Coffee (Ethiopia) with a commanding 3-1 away win, the soft-spoken gaffer believes URA can be a different animal this weekend at the Ismaïlia Stadium. 
Timbe is hopeful that by Friday when URA fly to Cairo, his deputies Simeone Masaba and Edward Ssali as well as the afflicted players would have recovered.
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