League leaders KCCA host stubborn Police FC in the first Lugogo derby of the season as both teams look to build on their impressive starts to the season.
The game’s highlight however, promises to be the tactical battle between either coaches as KCCA’s Mike Mutebi, the man who initiated Police’s Abdallah Mubiru into coaching and gave him his first coaching role as his assistant at KCCA in 2004.
Mutebi handpicked Mubiru to replace him at Kibuli SS and he is the man he replaced at KCCA when he came in at the start of the 2015-2016 season. Both coaches are the best tactically astute managers in the league and it will be interesting to see the approach they choose for today as it will be key for who comes up top.
The 2017/2018 Uganda Premier league champions have won four games on the bounce since their 3-2l oss to Express while Police FC have won thrice and lost twice in the past five games.
Mutebi’s charges have made the Startimes Stadium quite their fortress and have not lost league game at home so far this season.
Police on the other hand have lost their last two away games and have not won since the 2-1 win over Nyamityobora FC, losing twice and drawing once. But at Lugogo, which doubles as their home ground, they have also not dropped a point since October.
Both coaches speak highly of their counterparts and predict this to be a great game with football being the decisive factor on the day.
“I think it will be a very interesting match because Police also plays some very good football, They play that kind of football which is offensive, smart play and entertaining. It will be turf but we have enough to get over it,” Mutebi said
KCCA won the corresponding fixture 2-0 thanks to a Shaban Muhammad brace despite the Cops dominating the game and dictating play.
Former KCCA player and coach Mubiru also echoed the same sentiments that his counterpart said of the game when speaking to the media ahead of the game.
“We come up against a good team, log leaders with a good coach and so much quality. But these are the kind of games that players want and there can be no better motivation. We have good players and I believe in my boys,” he said
Former KCCA player Willa Shawn Paul returns to the team after serving his one match suspension for accumulated yellow cards.Young midfielder Hassan Kalega also returns to the team after missing the game against Kirinya.
Strikers Norman Ogik and Nyanzi Ronald could both return for this one but it comes abit early for combative midfielder Samuel Kayongo.
Saddam Juma will miss out for the hosts as he still recovers from his injury. But Julius Poloto and Benard Muwanga are available for the game and also got some minutes against BUL. Former Police midfielder Gift Ali is expected to have returned for this one.
KCCA have not lost to Police in the last ten league meetings but two of three draws have come with Mubiru in charge at the Cops. Both teams are the highest goal scoring sides in the league with 27 and 19 respectively.
The previous four meetings between Mutebi and Mubiru as coaches have ended in a win for either and two draws.
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