KCCA FC needs to dig deep to overturn three goal deficit against AS Otoho D’oyo

By Ritah Tugumisirize

KCCA FC will have to fight hard if they are to enter the group stages of this year’s CAF Confederations cup having endured a painful a 3-0 mauling to Congolese giants AS Otoho D’oyo last Sunday at the Stade Omnisport Marien Ngouabi, Owando.

The degree of pain could be seen on their coach Mike Mutebi’s face during his first public address upon return from the central African nation on Tuesday morning.

In an interview with Nile Post, Mutebi said the loss was due to his players’ fear of Otoho but promised to steer a fight back when they meet again at their Startimes fortress next Sunday. To achieve this however, Mutebi’s foot soldiers will have to walk the talk.

Saturday’s defeat cast doubt on the Uganda cup holders’ qualifying credentials despite them making it to the paid ranks on the continent for the past two successive editions.

Away in Congo, Mike Mutebi maintained his style of play opting for three defenders, with perennial starter and captain Timothy Awany sandwiched by Philbert Obenchan on the right and Mustafa Kizza on the left.

He then assembled four midfielders including Lawrence Bukenya to shield the back three with Gift Ali slightly ahead of him while the young Herbert Achayi and Julius Poloto swung in from the left and right flanks respectively.

The experienced Mike Mutyaba and Allan Okello then started either side of striker Patrick Kaddu as goalie Charles Lukwago kept his number one spot in a 3-4-3 formation.

The squad looked attractive on paper but on the pitch it was mayhem. A closer look at this squad revealed that Mutebi had only one natural defender on the field, (Timothy Awany) and one natural defensive midfielder, for an away game on the continent.

Critics will tell you this was a sign of underestimating the Congolese side and they got punished for it.

History has it clear, that for two legged encounters it is always wise to change the tactics while playing away. Even the Maghreb clubs that have bossed this tournament and tormented Ugandan clubs in the past and would have the right to feel like they have an edge on us never take such risks when they come here.

They always play with caution, (safety first), and wait to go all out while playing in front of their home fans.

But it is no secret that Mutebi doesn’t believe in that approach. Even in hell, the stoic gaffer will stick to his style, and on some occasions it has worked, but it was always going to be a matter of time that he is exposed.

KCCA FC’s backline was exposed from the time action got underway and as early as the 20th minute, the over exposed Timothy Awany fell to the pressure fouling inside the area to gift the hosts a penalty. Otoho skipper Moussa Yedan stepped up and made no mistake and from then, the rest was history.

Two minutes after his first, Yedan freely ran through the sleeping midfield to scored his second to completely subdue the visitors.

Instead of going for damage control by introducing a defensive player, Mutebi still had the belief that he could forge a comeback. He introduced Muzamir Mutyaba and Allan Kyambadde for Lawrence Bukenya and Mike Mutyaba respectively, but their partnership with Kaddu couldn’t yield the goals he hoped for but rather KCCA FC conceded a third in the 75th minute for the home side to take an easy three points.

Losing away in a CAF competition couldn’t have come as a shock, but this particular one perhaps could have been avoided, or at least reduced to a more ‘honorable loss’.

If Mutebi could only have taken a slightly more defensive approach may be the task on Sunday would be a smaller one.

Ahead of the return leg, the 12-time Ugandan league champions are still without midfielder Ibrahim Sadam Juma who is sidelined by injury while creative midfielder Jackson Nunda will have to pass a late fitness test if he is to play a part in this do or die encounter.

KCCA FC will have to score a minimum of four goals but also ensure that they do not concede if they are to make it to the paid ranks.

How Mike Mutebi is going to strike the balance between hunting for goals and keeping a clean sheet is what we wait to see.

If KCCA FC’s recent performances in the top flight are anything to go by, it will surely be a hard task to keep Otoho at bay for 90 minutes or so.

Meanwhile, as Mutebi, whose team returned this morning from Congo Brazaville sketches for a way out of the ditch they find themselves in, his local rivals Vipers are also looking for ways to sharpen their blunt attack that wasted several chances in their goalless first leg against CS Sfaxien at the same stage of the CAF confederations cup last Sunday in Kitende.

The venoms task is an easier one on paper since any win or a score draw in Tunisia on Sunday will send into the group stages for the first time in the club’s history, but practically it might even be harder than KCCA FC’s.

History has it that winning or avoiding a loss away to a Maghreb club is more times than not next to impossible.

But given the mischievous nature of football that gives chance even to underdogs, we can only pray and hope for the best results for both KCCA FC and Vipers on Sunday 20th January.