Nkana midfielder Shadreck Musonda (right) in a tussle with Kampala City Council Authority’s Saka Mpiima during the 2014 CAFChampions League first round first leg at Kitwe’s Arthur Davies Stadium last Saturday. The game ended goalless.
… Kitwe giants must beat Kampala or get big draw to qualify
From ROBINSON KUNDA in Kampala
ZAMBIA’s envoys in the 2014 CAF Champions League Nkana will be hoping for a flawless performance today when they face Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) in the first round return leg at Namboole Stadium in Kampala.
KCCA are carrying a huge advantage after scoring two goals in last Saturday’s draw at Kitwe’s Arthur Davies Stadium and only a high-scoring draw or an outright win will guarantee Nkana passage to the second round.
Both teams have rated their chances of winning highly but it is KCCA who are more confident after managing a 2-all draw in Zambia.
Nkana coach Masautso Mwale said all the loopholes that cost them victory last Saturday have been sealed.
“We learnt a lot from our first game. We are now going for victory because we have no choice but to qualify,” Mwale said.
To get a positive result, Mwale will start with Rabson Mucheleng’anga in goal while Donashama Malama, Maybin Chishimba, Christopher Munthali and Billy Mwanza will be in defence.
The defence was shaky in the first leg and former international Mwanza should marshal it well today.
The midfield will have skipper Sydney Kalume, Claude Bwalya and genius Shadreck Musonda.
Musonda will attract a lot of attention having scored a beauty of a goal last Saturday.
But Nkana will miss the services of creative midfielder Frank ‘Skill’ Chibuye, who is nursing a knee injury.
In Chibuye’s absence, Kelvin Mubanga will be given the responsibility to keep the supply line active to the strikers.
Mubanga was used as a second half substitute last Saturday.
But KCCA coach George Nsimbe is optimistic that his side will overcome Nkana.
“As a team we are ready for Nkana. We know we must win for us to progress,” he said.
Nsimbe, however, has to work on the team’s poor home record. KCCA last home win in the CAF competition was in 2009 when they beat South African side SuperSport United 2-1.
Two weeks ago, KCCA lost 1-2 to Sudanese side Al Merreikh but cruised to the first round 3-2 on aggregate.
Nkana could benefit from the absence of injured striker Tony Odur but Nsimbe said Michael Birungi is good enough to take up the challenge.
Odur and Brian Majwega were scorers in Kitwe.
The Ugandans know the threat Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba is posing and will keep an eye on him.
Kampamba missed a penalty in Kitwe but later got a goal.
Kampamba and Simon Bwalya have scored three goals in the competition and this speaks volumes of their ability.
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