Sunday, October 17
*Police Vs Vipers – 3pm
*Wakiso Giants Vs KCCA FC – 3pm
Team News
- Wakiso Giants have confirmed that they will be without new signing Grant Matsiko (injury).
- Titus Ssematimba and a couple of unnamed players are yet to get licenses
- For KCCA, Alex Wasswa was operated and will remain sidelined for some good months, but John Revita is back after about two years out
- Brian Kayanja, Musa Ramathan, Peter Magambo and Charles Lwanga have been ruled out as well.
Preview: Wakiso Giants To Test KCCA FC’s Title Credentials
For the second time in three seasons, KCCA FC start their league campaign against Wakiso Giants.
The first was in the 2019/20 season when Allan Okello’s only goal proved the difference at Lugogo, in what was the first top flight game for the Purple Sharks.
Much has changed since, but one thing has been a consistent – Both sides have flattered to deceive.
KCCA FC finished second behind Vipers and came fourth last season. Both seasons did not have a natural ending though due to Covid19 pandemic.
The Kasasiro Boys will begin their season with Morley Byekwaso as the manager after the club parted ways with Mike Mutebi in the second half of last season.
Byekwaso has received enormous support from the board as evidenced in the transfer market and its now his turn to fulfil his end of the bargain.
There were a lot of question marks in the few games he managed last season and more work was revealed for the gaffer after his side managed just one goal in three games in the CECAFA Kagame Cup.
In the bid to walk his team out of Mutebi’s shadow, Byekwaso showed exit door to a couple of players including Keziron Kizito, Filbert Obenchan, Bright Anukani, Kafumbe Joseph, Balinya Juma, Moses Aliro, Kato Samuel, Musana Hassan among others while Sserwadda Steven (USA) and Lukwago Charles (Ethiopia) joined teams abroad.
His new signings that include striker Davis Kasirye, have left a lot to be desired though.
He will request for more time to allow his new players gel but he may not have room for error when his competitors get off the mark.
He starts his new season away to Wakiso Giants, a side that bosses with a couple of former KCCA players like Aliro, Lawrence Bukenya and Tom Masiko.
Wakiso Giants have in the past two seasons (their only in UPL) been fronted by some pundits as a contender for top four places on the log but have been a disappointment.
This season, thanks to a quiet transfer, they have been out of the conversation and it remains to be seen whether they can use this silence to their advantage.
The side struggled at the bottom half of the table for the better part of last season and the club board contemplated on sacking coach Douglas Bamweyana on various occasions.
They added Alex Gitta to the technical bench and Bamweyana rediscovered his magic wand, consequently, five of the team’s eight wins in the whole season came in their closing six games!
Rahmat Ssenfuka scored a contested penalty to salvage a point after Samson Kigozi had put KCCA FC in the lead at Kabaka Kyabaggu stadium in the only meeting between the two sides last season.
The Purple Sharks who have lost Viane Ssekajugo, Gaddafi Wahab, Ibrahim Faizul, Geriga Atendele among others, have not had marquee signings per say.
They picked some crumbs off Express table in Frank Ssenyondo, added Striker Shariph Kimbowa, Grant Matsiko, Moses Aliro, Titus Ssematimba and Moses Aliro.
Its not known how strong a push the new additions will give Wakiso Giants who were ninth last season with 36 points when the season was halted due to Covid19.
Bamweyana’s biggest worry this season will be the team’s struggle to find the back of the net after the departure of Ssekajugo who netted 13 times last term.
Probable Lineups:
Wakiso Giants – Derrick Emukule, Moses Aliro, Simon Namwanja, Swaib mudde, Hassan Wasswa Dazo, Lawrence Bukenya, Tom Matsiko, Frank Ssenyondo, Ivan Bogere, Hassan Ssenyonjo, Pius Kaggwa
KCCA FC – Benjamin Ochan, Innocent Wafula, Herbert Achai, Denis Iguma, Geoffrey Wasswa, Gift Ali, Ashraf Mugume, Yasser Mugerwa, Brian Aheebwa, Sadat Anaku, Brian Majwega .
