Andrew Jackson Oryada
11 July 2009
Khartoum — Kampala City Council Football Club (KCC) FC returned to Uganda on Thursday after bowing out at the quarter-final stage of the 2009 Cecafa-Kagame Club Championship in Khartoum, Sudan.
It was fellow Ugandan and former Cranes custodian Sam Timbe, who made sure his Atraco FC denied George Nsimbe's side a share of the $100,000 (Shs219m) at stake for the best three teams.
At the beginning, KCC flattered to deceive. They started in blistering form, edging guest side TP Mazembe 3-2 before bringing down Prisons of Tanzania 3-1. Despite playing on an unfamiliar artificial turf, Nsimbe's charges upped the gear to waltz passed Benadri 5-1 in their last Group B match.
That was the last time the 1978 Cecafa champions afforded a smile in Khartoum. They needed one more win to have a sniff at the money bracket, but collapsed at the quarterfinal stage. Their performance was a replica of how they bowed out of the Caf Champions League and Confederations Cup. It must be remembered that the Kasasiro Boys also surrendered the Super League title to URA on goal difference after enjoying a lion's share of table leadership.
Like KCC got to learn, a good beginning can at times lead to a bad ending. Their 3-2 win over the fancied TP Mazembe, was so shocking that the players themselves couldn't believe they had beaten a team of that calibre. Victory over the Congolese side got to the players' heads. It made them believe they could beat any other team in the tournament.
No wonder many players had their focus on the semifinal, forgetting that tough opponents in Atraco FC awaited them at the quarterfinal stage. But KCC cared less about the Rwandans. Timbe's side had lost two games and conceded eight goals in the group stage and KCC had every reason to take them as mere participants. This played to the Rwandans' advantage.
While Atraco worked harder days to the game, KCC could even afford to relax for a full day without any training. Nsimbe and his men knew Atraco was a spent force but a shock awaited them. Timbe's side approached the game more seriously starting with preparations.
Although Atraco looked so awful at the start of the game, Timbe made good tactical changes that paid off in the end. Former KCC winger Alimansi Kadogo switched to the left flank and gave his erstwhile teammates a bloody time. Hit man Robert Ssentongo, who went into the match leading the scorers' chart with four goals, was double-teamed. KCC mid fielders, were too, made to chase shadows after their defence resorted to long balls in order to find Ssentongo.
Familiar foes
After the match, Atraco's Hamis Kitagenda said he knew he would score against his former club. "I have always been lucky against KCC. I used to score against them even when I was still at Mbale Heroes and URA," he stated.
The fact that six Atraco players are Ugandans and have played for KCC before paid off for Timbe. Godfery Katerega, Peter Kagabo, Kitagenda, Johnson Bagoole, Charles Kawuma and Kadogo did a wonderful job against their Ugandan counterparts.
That aside, KCC went into the match without key players Anthony Bongole (malaria), Tonny Okello (suspension) and Moses Muhindo (injury). Although any team must always adapt to playing with the available arsenal, KCC's good run at the start of the tournament was mainly because of Bongole's vital contribution.
Bongole made fierce runs at defenders, creating space and providing good crosses for Ssentongo and Okello to score. His absence in the quarterfinal clash limited supply to the strikers. It was thus no surprise that KCC failed to pull back at least one goal.
Complaints
Much as KCC players delivered in the preliminaries, their commitment was always in question. They complained almost about anything, forgetting that they were playing in a tournament with hefty cash prizes.
Not even the arrival of sports officer Tom Lwanga, who made sure each player received $200 (about Shs0.4m) in allowances, could change matters. The players simply went to the tournament with a negative attitude which clearly affected their confidence and killed the team work. A section of the players was even overheard complaining that a Somali team was getting $500 - more than double what they had been given.
Transfers
An impeccable source disclosed that three senior players, who are meant to undergo professional trials next week travelled to Khartoum for the sake of their coach Nsimbe whom they didn't want to let down.
So before they could even kick a ball, such players were not focus and their commitment to the tournament came under question. Despite all the hiccups, Hamid Juma, the KCC team manager, scored highly in handling and associating with players. A strict time keeper, Juma was always at hand to advise players about life on and off the pitch.
He played his part smartly, sometimes running to the kitchen to check the food and make sure the team had meals on time. However, that alone could not carry the team.
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