Saturday February 14, 2015, 1st Leg Preliminary Round
KCCA (Uganda) Vs Cosmos De Bafia (Cameroon) – Mandela National Stadium, Namboole Kickoff: 4.00pm
Uganda’s representatives in the CAF Champions League will target their first ever continental victory at Namboole stadium when they take on Cameroon’s Cosmos De Bafia.
The Ugandan league champions have played four continental fixtures at Namboole losing three of them 2-1 and drawing goalless in the other. In 1998, they lost to Zambia’s Power Dynamos before drawing 0-0 with Ajax Cape Town in CAF Confederations Cup in 2000 before losses to El Merriekh and Nkana FC last year in the CAF Champions League.
However, Coach Abdallah Mubiru isn’t bothered about the record. “It depends anyway on someone’s’ belief but I believe most of them (players) are religious and know you can have a bad day or a good day and maybe games at Namboole have always come with bad days at office.”
“They are only focused and prepared to have a good game. Our target is to start with a win and playing the first leg at home is a big challenge but that is what is at stake so we’re up to it.”
KCC FC have been boosted by the return to fitness of midfielder Tom Masiko who has been doubtful for the clash but will still miss the services of new acquisitions Savio Kabugo and Francis Olaki.
They are also without midfielder Michael Birungi who was stabbed by thugs a week ago.
The most worrying factor however heading into the game bar the record at Namboole is low conversion rate of forwards as exhibited in friendly games where they have scored just four in five games.
All pressure will be on forwards Herman Wasswa, Derrick Nsibambi and William Wadri to find the goals.
Only Wasswa of the trio has ever scored a continental goal as he opened the scoring in Khartoum against El Merriekh last year in the 2-0 victory.
The game will also mark Mubiru’s first continental game as head coach.
KCC FC Probable X1:
Yasin Mugabi (GK), Sakka Mpiima, Simon Namwanja, Ayub Kizza, Ronnie Kisekka, Hakim Senkumba, Ivan Ntege, Tom Masiko, William Wadri, Owen Kasule and Herman Wasswa.