Uganda Cup Semifinals, First Leg
KCCA FC vs Express FC
Phillip Omondi stadium
Kampala Capital City Authority football club will be seeking to take home advantage as they bid to clinch the elusive double (winning the league and Uganda cup) this season.
Ahead of the first leg in the semifinal against record champions Express FC this Friday at Phillip Omondi stadium, KCCA FC manager, Mike Hillary Mutebi believes his team comes into the game in high spirits.
“We are quite prepared and the fact that we come into this game on the back of a good performance against Club Africain in the confederation, this will itself motivate us. Games against Express are never easy but I believe we have the potential to take home advantage in the first leg,” said Mutebi.
With the league title already under their possession, the target for KCCA FC is to try and win the domestic double that has eluded them for time immemorial. Even last season, the Lugogo based side was stopped at the semifinal stage by eventual winners Vipers.
Mutebi confirmed that he will make a few changes from the team that played against club Africain with goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan taking the sidelines as Douglas Kisembo and Charles Lukwago battle for the starting slot in goal.
Youngster Allan Okello is cap tied having played for KCCA Corporate team at the initial stages of the competition and thus will not be available with Nigerian import Suleimon Akinyemi expected to start.
On the other hand, Express FC head coach Matia Lule is confident his team can pull off a descent result on Friday before the return leg in Wankulukuku.
“It will not be an easy game, the fact that KCCA FC are already champions of the league but that doesn’t faze us. We are up for the challenge and the target will be to make sure we get a good result at Lugogo,” he said.
Express who have won the competition 10 times will be seeking to win the prize for the first time in 10 years with their previous triumph coming in 2007. However, the red eagles will miss the services of defender Vincent Onyebuchi who broke his leg and will be on the sidelines for at least six months.
The winner over the two legs will take on either Paidha Black Angels or Sadolin Paints who play in the other semifinal with the former having a 2-0 first leg advantage.
The final is scheduled for 10th June at the Greenlight stadium in Arua district.