KCCA manager Mike Mutebi described Tuesday’s 2-1 Total CAF Confederation Cup victory over Tunisia’s Club Africain as the best performance the teams has had all season.
He has consequently tasked the boys to replicate that performance in Friday’s first leg semifinal against Express to be hosted at the Phillip Omondi stadium.
“We can only get better, the best performance of the season no doubt, holistically, technically tactically the understanding of the game. And it has come at the right time because if it’s our best performance on the continent so that means the players can only improve from 45% – 50%,
Noted the manager in his pre-match press conference notes, he also emphasized the importance of giving the players the confidence and liberty to express themselves going into the Friday tie.
“So it is very important because it gives the players more confidence to go into tomorrow’s game saying they should still give the same performance that they gave to their fans and if they do that then certainly it is going to be easy for us against Express hopefully they stay at that level and try to win,
Express game can help us shoot two birds with one stone
“The improved performance has come at the right time because you use the Uganda Cup game against Express as a precursor to the big one. Like I told you for these players and the club to improve, performance on the continent is key.
“So, with the performance they gave us on Tuesday, if they come with the same way, belief, attitude, you must believe that you are the best.
Focus and belief of the players
“Currently we are the best in Uganda and to be the best you exemplify it and the players have that belief and the focus is they want to make history. This club has never won a double and yet it had fantastic footballers but they have never had that.
“What these boys have done they have rewritten history they have done so many things that they have really gained confidence so it is a must that we have to negotiate past Express and look forward to whoever we meet in the final. Much as they have a wonderful history in the Cup but we believe we have enough in our arsenal.
He also gave team news that involves the exclusion of Allan Okello, Peter Magambo, Noel Nasasira and Julius Poloto who played in the earlier for the KCCA Corporate Team
“There are some boys Okello, Magambo and Poloto who are Cup tied but the others are there that means Akinyemi is going to start.
So largely the team that [played against Africain will represent us save for the goalkeeper. Our first-choice goalkeeper (Benjamin Ochan) plays the leagues and continental games and the understudies play in the Cups so Kisembo (Douglas) will be back in goal.
Positives from recent games against Express
“It’s important that we show up and the players interpret all these good things. But we have confidence like I said. This year we won the league at Express where we had never won and we got a result. That was another achievement that gives us confidence that over here we can do it and also win at Wankulukuku.
I think the lads now have that winning mentality and if the target is to play in the quarterfinals on the continent that means everything that comes before that we must win. Hopefully we show that tomorrow,” the Manager said.
Derrick Nsibambi who scored the equalizer on Tuesday against Club Africain in the 2-1 win is the leading scorer in the competition with seven goals.
The winner of the tie whose second leg is on Tuesday next week at Wankulukuku will then face either Sadolin or Paidha Black Angels in the final to be played on June 10 in Arua.
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