NAMBOLE – Kampala Capital City Authority FC are without three key players for Saturday’s Caf Champions League clash with Tunisian powerhouses Esperance.
Attacking midfielder Jackson Nunda, who starred for the Ugandan heavyweights by creating one and scoring another in Tunis a fortnight ago, has been ruled out injured of the match which kicks of at 4pm East African Time.
Joining Nunda on the sidelines injured is newly recruited midfielder Gift Ali, another outstanding performer in the 2-3 reversal at the hands of the former African club champions.
Meanwhile, Shaban Mohammed – scorer of the Kasasiros other goal at Rades Stadium is also unavailable because he has sought greener pastures in North Africa.
KCCA FC head coach Mike Hillary Mutebi has played down the absence of his stars, insisting his team is built to take advantage of squad depth.
“We are going to try to play offensive football, he three-time Uganda Premier League winner told a pre-match press conference Friday afternoon.
“I don’t mind the game ending 5-3 as long as we are winning.
Mutebi emphasised that the huge player turnover that has seen KCCA lose Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Joseph Ocaya, Derrick Nsibambi, Isaac Muleme and Shaban Mohammed in a space of a few months is by design.
“The bottomline is we are not affected by player turnover, continued Mutebi.
“It is designed and not by mistake.
“We sell these players to make some money.
The former Maroons and SC Villa tactician tipped Patrick Kaddu to fill the boots vacated by Nsibambi and Mohammed.
“Patrick Kaddu has been promoted from third choice to first, and he’s going to deliver.
The coach explained that his side failed to take advantage of a two goal lead because the players lacked confidence and felt sorry for themselves.
KCCA’s team’s strategy as they try to better a strong home record that has seen them beat Africa’s club of the century Al Ahly, Nigeria’s Rivers United, Tunisia’s Club Africain and Morocco’s FUS Rabat on home turf, is to improve on their ball retention.
“We are going to try to keep the ball and use it well, coach Mutebi said.
“We need to be disciplined 25 yards in front of our goal, and effective 25 yards in front of the opponents’ goal.
[Students with identification cards have been granted free access to the match at Mandela National Stadium.
Entry charges for the rest of spectators range from Shs10,000 in ordinary seats to Shs20,000 and Shs50,000 in the VIP and VVIP sections.
