KCC, URA have it all to do

At the end of the day, what matters is a win. Well, most often. Yet at times you cannot hide the uneasiness with which some marginal victories are achieved, especially knowing you are not the best of travelers.

Of course KCC and URA are in a much better place having edged Cameroon’s Cosmos de Bafia 1-0 and Madagascar’s Elgeco Plus 3-2 in the Caf Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively at the weekend.

Robert Ssentongo twice dug the tax collectors from the dungeon, canceling out substitute Yvon Njilamanana and Rajoarimanana Deanny’s 48th and 75th-minute spot kicks.

His brace set the stage for Frank Kalanda to snatch the winner and show some of his burgeoning abs.

Red cards dished out A day later, coach Abdallah Mubiru’s KCC - recording their first ever continental victory at Namboole since moving their home games from Nakivubo at the end of last decade – had to wait until 84 minutes before Herman Wasswa’s sweet left-foot half-volley gave them the edge.

But all two games, where red cards were dished out to URA’s Jonathan Mugabi on Friday and Cosmos de Bafia’s Nai Patrick on Saturday, were laboured, at best.

URA were as naïve in defence, where Mugabi and Oscar Agaba gifted Elgeco easy spot kicks, as flat and complacent in the middle and in front of goal. Well, until coach Alex Isabirye introduced Elukhana Nkugwa in place of Peter Lwasa, Kalanda for the heavy-legged Patrick Ochan and Moses Ali Feni for the ineffective Saidi Kyeyune.

Credit to Isabirye. His changes provided the much-needed thrust and pace in attack. In fact, all three were involved in Kalanda’s winner.

But that Elgeco also tested URA the way they did - away from home at that; Isabirye knows they will have to be at their best to pick their first ever away victory, although a draw is enough to seem them to the next round.

“I know they will come at us in Madagascar,” said Isabirye, “But we are not going to park the bus. We shall keep our discipline but attack them as well. I’m confident we shall progress.”

KCC’s Mubiru also knows they were below-par at Namboole in a game goalkeeper Yasin Mugabi’s two brilliant saves prevented the hosts from going into the break 2-0 down.

“Of course in sports you can never be perfect,” he said, “But I’m pleased with my players’ determination and attitude. First win at home and this is something we can build on.”