Orange Caf Champions league Preliminary round 2nd Leg
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Saturday February 15, 2014
KCC FC (Uganda) Vs El Merrickh (Sudan) – Namboole stadium @ 4.00pm
(KCC FC lead 2-0 on aggregate)
Ugandan champions KCC FC will seek to complete a double over Sudan giants El Merrickh when the two sides clash in the second leg of the 2014 Orange Caf Champion league preliminary round this Saturday 15 at Namboole stadium.
KCC FC won the first leg 2-0 in Khartoum thanks to two quick fire first half goals from strikers Herman Wasswa and Tony Odur and thus carries the advantage going into the second leg.
Coach George Nsimbe however believes the game is far from over and has urged his boys to replicate their first leg antics.
“We have not qualified yet. We played a good game in the first leg and are keen on repeating our performance. Merrickh is a good team and they will give us a good fight,” Nsimbe said.
Nsimbe will still be without creative midfielder Steven Bengo who missed the first leg through injury while the game may also come too early for Hassan Wasswa who was pardoned by the club a few weeks ago following disciplinary issues.
Gaddafi Kiwanuka who filled the Bengo’s void is also doubtful after pulling a muscle but Nsimbe has an option in Hakim Ssenkumba.
Nsimbe is likely to maintain a similar starting team as that in Khartoum but Brian Majwega; a second half substitute in the first leg may get start but only if he opts for a 4-4-2.
Jamal Salim is expected to keep his place between the posts whilst Ayub Kizza, Fahad Kawooya, Sakka Mpiima and Habib Kavuma will complete the back four.
Ivan Ntege, Gadaffi Kiwanuka and Tom Masiko are likely to complete the midfield trio but Kiwanuka may make way for Brian Majwega incase the technical team opts for a midfield four based on wing play.
Upfront, Tony Odur, Herman Wasswa and William Wadri who were superb in the first leg are likely to lead the hunt for goals.
Meanwhile, German born El Merrickh coach Michael Kruger still believes his side can overturn the 2-0 deficit and advance to the next stage but says it’s a daunting task.
“We still have a chance but we have to work harder. We were unlucky in the first leg and hope things get better in the return encounter. We will do our best to ensure qualification,” the German said.
Kruger who is under pressure to ensure the side reaches the lucrative group stages for the first time since 2009 will lay his expectations in Pascal Wawa, Shimilis Bekele, Tia Oliviera, Mohammad Traore and Saeed Mustafa.
FACTS:
-KCC FC and El Merrickh last met in this competition in 2009 with the latter edging the former with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
-KCC FC have never reached the group stages of the Orange Caf Champions league whilst El Merrickh has achieved the feat.
-The winner between KCC FC and El Merrickh meet either Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) or Nkana Red Devils (Zambia) in the next round.
KCC FC Probable X1:
Jamal Salim (GK), Sakka Mpiima, Habib Kavuma, Fahad Kawooya (c), Ivan Ntege, Gadaffi Kiwanuka, Tom Masiko, Herman Wasswa, Tony Odur and William Wadri.
