With a mass player exodus at KCCA FC this season, few would have imagined the Ugandan champions could match last year’s exploits in continental competition, yet they now stand only 90 minutes from making history.
Last year’s near miss in the Caf Champions League, when KCCA FC were denied a slot in the group stages by then reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns had started to appear to be the furthest they would go in this competition in a while. Deprived of prime goal-getter Geoffrey Sserunkuma, experienced stopper Benjamin Ochan and defenders Joseph Ochaya and Isaac Muleme, it seemed like the loss of experience in their ranks would come back to bite. Not quite.
Last week, coach Mike Mutebi’s inexperienced charges managed a rare statement away draw against a seasoned Caf Champions League outfit—Ethiopia’s St George, which leaves KCCA 90 minutes away from becoming the first Ugandan club to progress to the group stages of Africa’s premier club competition. It gets better: should they achieve that feat, a cash prize of $550,000 (Shs1.9bn) awaits.
This weekend, on Saturday March 17 2018, the Kasasiro Boys will play what is easily the most important game in the club’s recent history. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, a win of any kind at the home ground; the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo will secure their passage.
Can KCCA FC do it?
The odds have never been kinder for KCCA FC. Any kind of win for the Lugogo-based club automatically delivers the holy grail, yet, with the first leg ending goalless, even KCCA tactician Mutebi is aware that the tie is still open as he noted, “It is not going to be easy. The [away] result was good for us but it is not going to be easy. Not scoring makes it dangerous for us because we are playing a very good team which uses the ball very well.”
KCCA will also draw from the experiences of Ugandan sides that simply needed to win but failed when in similarly commanding positions, although the Ugandan champions can take some encouragement from the fact that St George have been struggling for form. If they can manage to do what no other Ugandan side has so far, it is not just a place in history that awaits, there is a slice of Shs2b to be shared.