Time for URA to take shackles off

It’s been 19 long and painful years since the day SC Villa lost to Tunisia’s Club Africain in the final of the old African Cup of Champion Clubs.

Each passing season has brought more failure as no Ugandan club has come close to matching Villa’s exploits of 1991. The abyss has translated into several lows eclipsed by Villa opting out of this year’s Confederations Cup.

Villa’s demise has left champions URA with the gigantic task of carrying the cross on behalf of 30 million Ugandans. This evening, URA start their Orange Caf Champions League journey against Zambia’s Zanaco in the first leg at Namboole.

Despite winning three of the last four league titles, URA have fallen at this stage (preliminary round) twice before but faced with weight of expectations, coach Moses Basena is looking everywhere in order to conquer the barrier. “KCC raised the bar (by reaching the second round of the same competition last year). We must maintain or surpass (them),” Basena, renowned for his cautious approach, told Daily Monitor. “Motivation has never been a problem at URA.

The playing staff must show their ambitions now,” he added.
URA’s chances heavily rely upon establishing a comfortable lead for the return leg in a fortnight.

Goal threat
Without any recognisable wingers and often fielding two defensive midfielders plus a lone forward in Henry Kisekka, the burden lies on the creative trio of Mike Sserumaga, Augustine Nsumba and Patrick Ssenfuka.

All three were signed by Basena to improve his side’s goal threat. “Nsumba is the most unheralded forward in the game. He should pose questions (to Zanaco) and provide the cutting edge,” said Basena.

URA will want to cash in on Zanaco’s targets which are far from today’s game. “Our target is continental glory. We came here to make the return leg match a formality, so it is important to take the first leg seriously,” Zanaco coach Wedson Nyirenda noted.

While an assistant at Zambia’s Zesco, Nyirenda eliminated URA at the same stage two years ago and is relishing a repeat. “Traditional Zambian football has never been negative, so don’t expect Zanaco to sit back,” he warned.

Lethal wingers Henry Banda and Ignatius Lwipa along with Zambian international midfielder Thomas Nyirenda will test URA’s rearguard.
The game kicks off at 4pm and entrance is free for kids.

URA’s probable line-up
Mulindwa Muwonge
Derrick Walulya
Sam Ssenoga
Musa Doka
Sam Mubiru
Jimmy Kidega
Manko Kaweesa
Patrick Ssenfuka
Mike Sserumaga
Augustine Nsumba
Henry Kisekka

Zanaco’s probable line-up

Joshua Titima
Charles Siyingwa
Kennedy Nketani
Maybin Chishimba
Mwelwa Sakala
Thomas Nyirenda
Henry Banda
Allan Mukuka
Ignatius Lwipa
Sakala Makundika
Winston Kalengo