KCCA FC a draw away from CAF confederations cup final qualifying round after three nil mauling of Tanzania’s Mtibwa Sugar
KCCA FC manager Mike Mutebi made several changes to the team that started their 3:2 loss to Express in Wankulukuku on Tuesday in the Startimes Uganda Premier league.
With Sadam Juma out injured, young defensive midfielder Lawrence Bukenya teamed up with Jackson Nunda as the sitting duo, with Gift Ali and Allan Okello playing ahead of them, Mustafa Kizza maintaining his position of the left wing, while Allan Kyambadde and Patrick Kaddu led the goal hunt in their usual 3S5S2 formation.
The first half was a KCCA FC procession. The yellow boys made several inroads into the visitor’s third but were denied the cutting edge either for their own poor finishing or by Mtibwa’s number one Shaaban Shaaban who was the busier of the two shot stoppers all game.
Allan Kyambadde could have bagged at least a brace in the first half, often opening himself up for opportunities but his last touch kept un doing him.
Mustafa Kizza who was part of most of the good things the yellow boys did also squandered a chance to get on the score sheet after Jackson Nunda set him up inside the area only to take a baby shot, that seemed like catching practice for Mtibwa’s Shaaban.
It was goalless at the recess to the disappointment of the home team but their spirit was never diminished.
Whatever half time talk Mike Mutebi gave his players must have come in the perfect doze, and so was his tactical approach.
Upon resumption, Kyambadde pulled behind a bit, first occupying his favoured hole behind Kaddu while the left footed Allan Okello momentarily went inverted on the right.
This paid off almost instantly. Just three minutes into the second stanza, Kyambadde picked up the ball from just outside Mtibwa’s box to set him self up for a bullet that the visiting goalkeeper couldn’t deal with, to give the home team a long deserved lead.
An immediate glance at KCCA FC’s technical area, were busy entities. The ever inventive Mutebi and his assistant Morley Byekwaso whispering to each other as thought they were exchanging ideas on how to pile more misery to the Tanzanians.
Eventually, we saw Kyambadde switch positions with Okello, as the former dropped back in, as the latter went wide. Again this proved to be a tactical master piece. Kyambadde now turned provider as his high flying ball in the 73rd minute found the head of an unmarked Patrick Kaddu who headed home his fourth goal for the club in all competitions.
There was still time for some magic from the special Allan Okello. The 18 year old astonished everyone in the stands and those watching on Sanyuka TV when he picked substitute Mike Mutyaba’s ball, swiftly turned, dummied past two approaching Mtibwa defenders before sending projectile into the far right corner of Shaaban Shaaban’s goal for the third and perhaps most stylish goal of the day.
Despite the one sided victory, KCCA FC manager Mike Mutebi had no praises for his players for the avalanche of wasted chances in the first half.
“We would have scored like six or seven goals hadn’t it been for the carelessness of the players especially in the first half, but the result is satisfactory one.” Mutebi said.
His opposite number Zuber Katwira heaped praise on the yellow boys and admitted to how herculean a task it will be for them to over turn this when the two team meet next weekend on the 22nd of December for the return leg in the Tanzian capital Dar es Salaam.
“We lost to a very good team. We now need to score at least three goals against such a good team which I think will be difficult but we shall do our best.”
This is the first time in 14 years the Tanzanian cup holders are playing on the continent while KCCA FC are looking to make the group stages of a continental
