Sports Club Villa technical director, Frank ‘Video’ Anyau has in a special way singled out nature’s call as the one of the key factors in the Jogoos’ 1-0 victory over Sudanese Al Kharatoum Al Watani on Saturday.
During the return leg of the CAF confederation cup tie at Nakivubo stadium in Kampala, It rained so heavily that the Somalian FIFA referee, Hagi Yabarow Wilsh temporarily halted the match for about 15 minutes as the players returned to the dressing rooms.
The experienced tactician, who was the head coach in the fixture by virture of his CAF A qualification, noted;
The break was a real blessing in a way that we used it to talk to the players to settle down since they had lost their calmness when we conceded a 10th minute penalty.
I will not talk about the incident which brought the penalty because the match referee has all the powers.
But, we talked to the players to forget that and we continue play
Sports Club Villa Jogoo survived conceding an early goal when skipper Abdalgabar Nagim watched in disbelief when his weak effort was parried for a corner kick by goalkeeper, Nicholas Sebwato.
Sebwato earlier fouled dreadlocked forward, Abubakri Razak following a defence splitter from Domonic Aboi.
In a quick twist of events, rains set in that making the ball movement impossible and impairing visibility too until the referee halted the play on the quarter hour mark.
Upon resumption, SC Villa was completely a different entity.
On one of the raids from the left, Isaac Muleme’s pin point cross found an on rushing Godfrey Lwesibawa an unmarked as he fully embraced the opportunity with open hands when he headed the Jogoos ahead.
That was the only goal of the day with SC Villa completing the double over Al Khartoum Al Watani and book a berth to the first round against Zanzibar’s JKU football club.
Anyau, who is also the national U-23 assistant coach (to Milutin Sredojevic) has challenged the Jogoos to replicate the form over the two legs in the preliminary round when they play JKU in the first round.
“In football, character and dedication are two great aspects. We have the players who can play good football. Only fitness belief, determination and the will play are the factors they need to excel” he added.
SC Villa will host the first match at Nakivubo stadium between 11th – 13th March 2016.
How the two clubs lined up:
SC Villa XI:
Nicholas Sebwato (G.K), Misi Katende, Isaac Muleme, Henry Katongole, Jonathan Mugabi (C), Taddeo Lwanga, Godfrey Lwesibawa (45’ Mike Ndera), Paul Mbowa, Umaru Kasumba (78’ Ambrose Kirya), Mike Sserumaga, Robert Achema (76’ Martin Kizza)
Subs Not Used:
Ashadu Bugembe (G.K), Abel Eturude, Sulaiman Ochero, Abdulkarim Kasule
Al Khartoum Al Watani XI:
El Thhir Adil (G.K), Abdalgabar Nagim, Nagim Nimer Mahmood, Ali Amjed, Atif Khalid Eltyeb, Aboi Domonic, Abdalla Badr, Gismalla Maaz, Abubakri Razak (47’Awad Abdalla Wagdi), Michael Birungi (76’ Elmani Amin), Gadalla Nazar (57’ Merghani Nour Samawal)
Subs Not Used:
Abdalla Mohamed (G.K), Eltaib Mohammed, Hassan Hassan, Bahit Saifeldin
Match Officials:
Center Referee: Hagi Yabarow Wilsh (Somalia)
1st Assistant Referee: Ali Mohamed Mahad (Somalia)
2nd Assistant Referee: Abdulahi Sheikh Aweys (Somalia)
Reserve Referee: Bashir Olad Arab (Somalia)
Match Commissioner: Alfred Rwiza Kishongole (Tanzania)