FUFA Super Eight: Wakiso Giants Vs KCCA – Must Know

August 10, 2023
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Thursday, August 10
•SC Villa 2-1 Maroons
•BUL FC 1-0 Vipers SC

Friday, August 11
•Wakiso Giants Vs KCCA
•URA Vs Bright Stars

KCCA FC will hope to use their home advantage count when they face off with Wakiso Giants at Lugogo in the FUFA Super Eight encounter.

Wakiso Giants were handed the opportunity to host the game per the draw, but with Kabaka Kyabaggu unavailable and in poor conditions after the Bika competitions, the Purple Sharks had to explore their options.

Surprisingly, the opted to host at Lugogo, home of their opponent – a gift well wrapped for KCCA.

Last season, KCCA beat Wakiso Giants home and away in the league including an opener they edged 3-2 with Ashraf Mugume (2) and Geoffrey Wasswa on target.

Owen Kasule and Tom Masiko scored for the Purple Sharks.

But it was the second round tie in Wakissha that made the headlines, with KCCA needing a contentious Rogers Mato goal to edge the side.

Mato looked to be coming from an offside position when he scored from a loose ball after Allan Okello looked to have been brought down in the penalty area during the build up.

Assistant Referee Ronald Katenya initially signalled for offside, but centre referee Ali Sabira rightly awarded the goal as Mato was kept onside by a Wakiso defender as the goalkeeper had moved up into action.

Fast forward, KCCA went on to finish the league second with 53 points, 17 points behind Wakiso Giants in 8th.

Wakiso Giants last beat KCCA at Lugogo in the last game of the 2021/22 season, with Shariph Kimbowa scoring the only goal of the game – which is still Wakiso’s only win against KCCA to date.

Many have left the Lugogo-based side including Rogers Mato, Benjamin Ochan, Brian Aheebwa, Ali Mwirusi, Geoffrey Wasswa, Brian Majwega, Allan Okello, Mustafa Kizza, Brian Kayanja, Denis Iguma and Charles Lwanga.

KCCA look a much changed side with the addition of Adilson Bruno, Brazilians Joao Gabriel, Vinicius Michael, and Angolans Emilson Gonzaga, Cungulo Da Silva, Etienne Katenga and Joel Sserunjogi

They have tested their players in a couple of friendlies including one against Kenya’s Kakamega Homeboyz with Usama Arafat and captain Julius Poloto scoring in the 2-0 win.

“We are ready and prepared very well, every single training is being intensive all players are doing their best and I think they will be ready for the test,” said KCCA FC new coach Sergio Traguil.

“It’s a new season, new reality, new players and we are ready for this challenge. Our objective is to fight and win every competition we play in.I hope the stadium will have full supporters and back us up.”

Joao ‘Gabi” Gabriel is expected to play after missing the Kakamega friendly, Emilson got a knock while Adilson Bruno is also ruled out.

Wakiso Giants best transfer signing has been retaining head coach John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda.

The gaffer was strongly linked to a move to newly promoted side NEC FC who have since settled for Hussein Mbalangu.

The Purple Sharks have lost quality players like Shariph Kimbowa and Moses Aliro who have joined URA while right back Grant Matsiko signed for Vipers. Goalkeeper Ibrahim Kiirya is the other player who left the club.

There hasn’t been a marquee signings, with Bashir Asiku, Andrew Samson Kigozi (Unveiled), Mulamba Blanchar (Unveiled) and Samuel Madiba some of the additions.

Muhammad Kagawa Ssenoga joined on loan from KCCA but he will be ineligible to face his parent club.