Uganda Premier League champions KCCA FC may not have been certain of progressing when they were drawn against Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
But there was one certainty. The winner of the tie would face African champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the pre-group round of the continental competition.
KCCA defended for their lives at the Estádio 11 de Novembro as the 2-1 loss was good enough to see them through having won the first leg 1-0 at Lugogo.
And now goalkeeper, Benjamin Ochan can’t wait to face the Masandawana, who he insists the Kasasiro are well equipped for despite the pressure that comes along.
Ochana told the club website: “There is always pressure especially playing a team like Mamelodi Sundowns but I’m a believer and I trust in God. As a team, we have really worked hard and that’s why we managed to edge past D’Agosto. We are worth facing them and well equipped for the challenge.
“Of course it will be sad for them but we would love to fulfill our target of going into the group stages. There is no point to prove really, Mamelodi Sundowns are a big team,champions of Africa now but we are also champions in Uganda.”
In facing the Sundowns, Ochan and company will be up against some of the continent’s best players and it goes without saying, Denis Onyango, the 2016 Africa Football of Year – based in Africa, who he believes has nothing to prove.
Instead, it will be a ‘great’ honour for KCCA to face him according to the well travelled goalie.
“I don’t think he still has anything to prove. Africa’s number one goalkeeper and best player in Africa, so I think he has really achieved it all, and playing against him will be a great honor for me and the team”
Mamelodi Sundowns will host the first leg on the weekend of 10th-12th March, 2017 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria and KCCA will play host on the weekend of 17th-19th March, 2017 at the Philip Omondi Stadium.