KCCA has won its previous two championships playing a football style they dubbed “our way” but last evening their way eluded them.
It goes to show that teams have mastered the way KCCA plays and if they dont adapt they will not hurt you.
That style had Benjamin Ochan who is very good with his feet initiate attacks and a back three that had Denis Okot and Ochaya at either wing who were very good defensively and going forward.
Fast forward to this season, Charles Lukwago for all his form in goal his distribution is poor and yesterday a short pass to Habib Kavuma nearly cost the team but Proline failed to capitalize.
Habib Kavuma is showing signs of his age and every time and he got the ball his mind was only on hitting it forward.
Filbert Benchan the replacement for Okot has a lot to learn, against tricky players he is fragile and he couldn’t allow Mucerezi venture forward. The latter spent more time helping him out defensively.
Either the gaffer is living in denial or just undermined Proline.
KCCA picked points off their main rivals Police and Vipers playing a style unfamiliar with Mike Mutebi’s teams. They were ugly but efficient, the stuff that has seen Muhammad Shaban score 6 goals in 3 games.
Its clear the players to suit our style are no longer his favorites and therefore a smart coach knows how to best make use of his resources.
Mujib Kasule played the big Ivan Bukenya and he bullied all KCCA players apart from the dancing Rasta – Allan Kateregga – who tried to confront him up face to face which was cautioned by the referee.
Savio Kabugo marshaled the defense and never gave Shaban and Nsibambi a chance to run at them.
Saidi Keni was solid in goal but nearly made a meal of a dancing rasta effort straight at him at the end of the 1st half but his other saves were more or less frustrated KCCA efforts and not properly constructed plays.
A high line played by KCCA with only one confident player in Timothy Awany led to the opener by Daniel Isiagi who pounced when Habib Kavuma was slow to cover his partner.
He set himself up with a simple drop down header and with Lukwago advancing, he calmly slotted the ball in the bottom corner – signs of a boy high on confidence and must have picked up a thing or two at Claudia Ranieris Nantes in France where he has been on trials.
The introduction of Isaac Kirabira and Muleme at half time added some impetuous to the KCCA attack.
Kirabira helped out Lawrence Bukenya who had been overwhelmed by Mandela and Ivan Bukenya in midfield and Muleme kept the left back busy foiling any attacks from the Proline wing which terrorized Habib Kavuma in the 1st half.
But the substitutions saw the withdraw of Sadam Juma and Muzamir Mutyaba with the creative work left for the Dancing Rasta very surprising for a team chasing the game.
A second goal at the start of the second half pocked home by Isiagi again came after a Benchan was non committal in a challenge thereby committing the greatest offence a right back can make allowing a low ball go through into the dangerous area with Isiagi completing the formalities.
Thereafter KCCA threw the kitchen sink at Proline but with no reward, no clear cut chances. Shaban finished the game with no effort on target, Nsibambi tried his luck from distance but failed only Dancing Rasta looked like he wanted the glory for himself.
Benchan nearly redeemed himself with a header at the near post off Kateregga’s corner but Saidi Keni dealt with it.
A Paul Mucerezi penalty at the death wasn’t enough to earn the defending champions full points, Proline by far the better team.
They had done their homework and as long as they stuck to the script they would leave Lugogo with something.
Maybe all three points were not on their menu but they deserved something, they battled for balls and were not shy to put in the odd boot.
KCCA was bullied off their own park, you might argue Proline was the home team and herein lies the first mistake the hosts made thinking they are the home team.
Mike Mutebi needs to find a new way. Champions should be innovative enough to vary their play.
They have players creative enough to punish any team but Mike is failing to find a good mix. The flat back three is a risk in Lugogo but on bigger pitches like in Namboole like it was against URA, exposes old legs in guys like Habib Kavuma.
Why Kiiza Mustafa didn’t play is another debate for another day. KCCA is now a marked team. Lugogo is no longer a fotress.
Police out played KCCA in Lugogo but KCCA got the goals. Vipers had its game face on but again KCCA won maybe that should be the new KCCA way.
Teams come to Lugogo ready to battle and on small size pitch as long as i can box you out am good.
KCCA travels to Mbarara on Tuesday on a Kakyeka ground that only Vipers has managed to win out of all the visitors to it.
