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Only divine intervention can stop KCCA
KCCA midfielder Brian Ijara (L) against Kataka in the Uganda Cup game. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
With Vipers clinching the league title midweek and now eyeing a second domestic double, KCCA’s Uganda Cup campaign is their final shot at silverware—and redemption.
MBALE. KCCA head to Mbale this afternoon with one foot firmly in the Stanbic Uganda Cup final as they take on Fufa Big League outfit Kataka in the second leg of their semifinal clash.
The 13-time top-flight champions and joint-record ten-time Cup winners carry a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg played at Lugogo a fortnight ago.
In that game, Kataka held their ground and even threatened an upset, but eventually succumbed to Emmanuel Anyama’s late first-half strike.
The youngster completed his brace in the second stanza before Ashraf Mugume sealed a healthy lead for the Kasasiro Boys.
History is firmly on their side. No team has ever overturned such a deficit at this stage of the competition.
Despite the cushion, KCCA interim head coach Jackson Magera is exercising caution.
“Lugazi asked a few questions, but we were able to answer them,” Magera said, reflecting on their emphatic 5-0 win over Lugazi in the final home match of the season at Lugogo.
“However,” he warned, “it is a different case in the cup. We have to focus on a do-or-die game. We must put the players in the right mentality to avoid any cases of complacency.”
Fortune
Kataka, known for their physicality and moments of fortune this season, have proven a tough nut to crack in Mbale.
While their task tonight borders on the improbable, they will count on passionate home support and the underdog spirit to fuel their ambitions.
Meanwhile, KCCA appears to have hit top gear at the right time. Since Magera took over following Abdallah Mubiru’s dismissal on April 11, the Lugogo side has looked revitalised.
They are unbeaten in their last seven matches, winning six, including back-to-back 5-0 routs of Wakiso Giants and Lugazi.
In those two games, Magera’s boys exuded confidence. Joao Cardoso and Anyama both bagged braces against Lugazi, with Steven Munguchi completing the rout.
Cardoso was also on target against Wakiso, supported by goals from Bright Anukani, Umar Lutalo, and Ashraf Mugume, who was named Man of the Match. The goals have flowed freely, giving KCCA the firepower they need to cross the finish line.
With Vipers clinching the league title midweek and now eyeing a second domestic double, KCCA’s Uganda Cup campaign is their final shot at silverware—and redemption.
The club hasn’t lifted a major trophy since 2019, and the pressure to end a six-year drought and return to continental football is mounting.
Magera’s men are the form team in the competition and will be favourites again in Mbale. Still, cup football has its surprises, especially considering Kataka’s recent lucky escapes. The Big League side are enjoying their best-ever Cup run and, with promotion hopes fading, may throw everything into this semifinal.
“They beat us in the first leg, but the tie isn’t over yet. That’s why there’s a second leg,” said Kataka head coach Godfrey Awachango. “We’ve pushed hard this time, and we want to give our all in front of our fans.”
STANBIC UGANDA CUP
Semifinal second leg - Sunday
Kataka vs. KCCA, Mbale City Stadium – 3pm
(KCCA lead 3-0 from the first leg)
