CAF Confederations Cup
Second preliminary round
Sunday, 4pm (Live on Sanyuka TV)
KCCA FC vs Paradou AC, Lugogo
Fee: Shs10k, 20k, 50k
KCCA FC will hope to bank on their renewed confidence when they take on Algeria’s Paradou AC this Sunday in the CAF Confederations Cup, second preliminary round at the StarTimes stadium, Lugogo.
The 13-time Uganda champions dropped to the Confederations Cup after elimination from CAF Champions league by Angola’s Petro de Luanda last month on away goals rule.
The 1963 founded KCCA played to a barren draw in Angola before a disappointing 1-1 home draw that saw them dumped out. KCCA ended their five-match winless run with a 4-0 home win against Onduparaka in the StarTimes Uganda premier league before beating Maroons 3-1 away in Luzira in the last outing.
Ahead of the Sunday tie, KCCA FC manager Mike Mutebi understands that Northern Africa clubs use the ball very well and counter-attacking approach which they must be vigilant of.
“We must be vigilant in the midfield and sharp in the final third. We shall try out all that we can to negotiate past this stage and reach the group stage and I believe we have the capacity,” noted Mutebi, who dubbed the tie as ‘win or nothing’.
The big boost for the Ugandan champions is the return of Mutyaba Muzamir after a long injury lay-off. The play maker returned with a goal against Big league side Katwe United in a friendly on Friday as KCCA won 2-0.
Eric Ssenjobe is also back but Sadam Juma, Julius Poloto and Hassan Jurua are out injured. Revita John, Erisa Ssekisambu, Kezironi Kizito and John Odumegwu sit out with no CAF licenses.
KCCA has only scored four goals at the continent this season –with Patrick Kaddu, Allan Okello and Mustapha Kizza (x2) appearing on the score sheet.
The 1994 founded Paradou ejected Sfaxien at the previous stage of this very competition and arrived in the country on Friday booming with all the confidence as they checked in at Lake Victoria hotel.
The visitors come off a 1-0 away win at Oran in the Algeria top tier. The two teams will play the return leg in a week’s time in Algiers and the aggregate winner will storm the competition’s group stage.
KCCA fell short of last season CAF Confederations Cup group stage when they were ejected by Congo Brazzaville’s AS Otoho D’Oyo 3-2 on aggregate.
KCCA, who have only lost once at home on the continent under Mike Mutebi, beat Otoho 2-0 at home but had lost 3-0 in the first leg.
The Sunday match is Mike Mutebi’s 31st continental game with only one loss at home –a 1-0 defeat Namboole stadium by Tunisia’s Esperance in July last year in a CAF Champions League group game that saw KCCA goal keeper Charles Lukwago red carded.
