Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC Head Coach Morley Byekwaso says that his side played the best football albeit losing 1-0 to Burundi’s reigning league winners Messager Ngozi, a result that saw his side exit the 2021 CECAFA Kagame Cup on Saturday in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania.
The Uganda Premier League side who entered the event as defending champions were shown the door after Eric Mbirizi’s 35th minute lone strike condemned them (KCCA) to their second loss at the group stage level (Group B) of the event.
For Byekwaso, the KCCA gaffer says that the best side of the day lost the match claiming that his side only lacked luck.
“We did not have luck. When you look at the chances we created and how many times we hit the woodwork in all the three games. It has so much to tell. We tried so hard to bury the chances but it just didn’t come our way. It happens sometimes in football. The better team fails to win,” Byekwaso told his club website.
Byekwaso says that his side will build on the experience gained from the tournament and make necessary amends ahead of the new football season.
“I am so convinced we played the best football but we were unlucky on the day. We need to pick the lessons from the tournament ahead of the busy season we are going to have. We need to sharpen our attack because we create chances but fail to tuck them away,” Byekwaso added.
Byekwaso also noted that the early CECAFA exit is a wake up call for both his charges and dugout who must adjust accordingly to avoid such displays in the near future.
“We have got to go back home and review this tournament. We have got to start preparations ahead of the season and this tournament has helped us to know where we stand as of now. We have some new players who are yet to feature for us. We will strengthen and bounce back ahead of the new season,” said Byekwaso.
Meanwhile, Uganda Premier League holders Express FC qualified for the semi-finals after a 3-1 win against Young Africans.
The semi-finals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event’s grand finale will happen on Saturday.