KCCA FC are strong favourites to walk away with this year’s Uganda Premier League title and if this comes to pass, it will be their 13th overall, three behind record winners SC Villa (16).
The ‘Garbage Collectors‘ managed to keep their four point gap atop intact after a one all draw with title rivals Vipers in a sale out game played at Lugogo.
The hosts had a slow start but their second half performance would have yielded more than a point and KCCA FC Coach Mike Mutebi, speaking after the game, explained.
“A slow start, it happens, we are supposed to dominate these games from the word go, but am still educating these players on the way we want to play football.
“My team is operating at 50% of its potential but am sure that they will click.
“Vipers showed their intention that they needed three points, and that forced us to be cautious in our plays.”
KCCA used a three man defence with Peter Magambo operating between Timothy Awany and Hassan Musana. Nicholas Kasozi and Shaban Nunda both sat in the middle of the park while a trio of Muzamir Mutyaba, Allan Okello and Mustafa Kizza were employed to feed the attacking duo of Mike Mutyaba and Sadat Anaku.
Patrick Kaddu and Gift Ali were introduced in, Nund and Anaku paving way at restart. KCCA took charge of the game.
And it was just four minutes after restart when Okello set Mutyaba free to slot home an equaliser. Vipers had led through Brian Nkuubi’s goal in the first stanza.
KCCA could have won the game, like Mutebi affirmed in his post match quotes. They were denied by the cross bar twice and Vipers keeper Derrick Ochan on several occasions. And Kasozi was the architect.
“He is been our most consistent player since he was handed his debut starting on the match against Mbarara on away,” Mutebi was all praise for Kasozi. “He has the talent, but it has been through hard work.
Talent is not enough when you don’t have the knowledge.”
On why Allan Okello was playing deep, the gaffer explained:
“Allan Okello wants to get involved, he has got immense talent and wants to make things happen and we always give him that role. He is still young and let’s not forget that.”
With five games to go, KCCA FC are four points clear, it would have been seven if they beat Vipers. When asked on his side’s title chances, Mutebi commented:
“It would have been 90 but it has dropped to 70% because we have a very difficult game against Paidha, make no mistake, it will not be very easy for us.”
Remaining Games
KCCA FC: Paidha (A), Express (H), Ndejje (A), Nyamityobora (A), Maroons (H)
Vipers SC: Mbarara (A), URA (H), Police (A), Paidha (A), BUL (H)
