KCCA is doing everything it can to replicate the successes of 2017 both domestically and on the continent. From making the group stages of the
CAF Confederation Cup to a maiden cup double in the league and Uganda Cup, coach Mike Mutebi wants to reap even more.
Uganda’s sole representatives on the continent are still in the bigger competition this year - the CAF Champions League stage. And Mutebi insists making the Champions League groups remains the club’s biggest priority. “We may win one of either the league or cup at home,” Mutebi told this website. “But while our opponents concentrate, we still want something bigger on the continent.”
KCCA can achieve that if they eliminate Ethiopian opponents Saint George at the first round stage of this competition. The first leg takes place in Addis Ababa on Wednesday with visitors keen to avoid defeat against the 1967 semi-finalists. “It is not going to be an easy match but we shall do our best,” said teenage midfielder Allan Okello.
“The boys are showing character and it is what we need going onto the continent,” Mutebi said after the club beat Soana 1-0 at Lugogo in the Uganda Premier League on Saturday. Mutebi was blessed with the return of Mustapha Kizza and Muzamiru Mutyaba, the duo offers more options in the team’s style of play.
Kizza leads the assist charts with 10 in the league but forwards Muhammad Shaban and Derrick Nsibambi, who scored away at CNaPS Sport in Madagascar in the previous round, must be sharper. “We shall try to score and see if we can kill off the tie when we return on March 17.” he added. Meanwhile, Saint George earned a walkover against South Sudan’s Al-Salam Wau in the preliminary round but their poor form pegs down coach Manuel Vaz Pinto’s ambitions.
However, KCCA must be worry of their backline that has conceded at least a goal in every match away on the continent since the start of the 2017 season. Saint George made it to the group stages of this competition last year, finishing behind Tunisia’s Esperance and then holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
2018 CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
PRELIMINARY ROUND
1ST LEG - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
CNaPS Sport (MAD) 2-1 KCCA (UGA)
2ND LEG - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
KCCA 1-0 CNaPS Sport
FIRST ROUND – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
St. George (ETH) vs. KCCA (UGA), Addis Ababa
KCCA ON THE CONTINENT - 2017
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
KCCA 1-0 Club de Agosto (ANG)
Club de Agosto 2-1 KCCA
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) 2-1 KCCA
KCCA 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
CAF CONFEDERATION CUP
KCCA 1-0 Al Masry (EGY)
Al Masry 1-0 KCCA
(KCCA won 4-3 on penalties)
GROUP STAGE
FUS Rabat (MAR) 3-0 KCCA
KCCA 2-1 Club Africain (TUN)
KCCA 2-1 Rivers United (NIG)
Rivers United 2-1 KCCA
KCCA 3-1 FUS Rabat
Club Africain 4-0 KCCA
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune