The last time Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA) held aloft the Central and East African (Cecafa) Club Championships was in 1978. That team had the likes of club legends Jimmy Kirunda and Phillip Omondi.
But 41 years on, the class of 2019 have led the club to similar heights after they defeated defending champions Azam FC from Tanzania to win the regional championship after a closely contested game at the Stade Kigali, Nyamirambo on Sunday evening.
Despite coming up against the defending Champions, KCCA looked to have shaken off their nerve early as they dominated the opening half and were unlucky not to be ahead by the first half whistle.
Youngster Allan Okello had a goal disallowed in the sixth minute by referee Ishimwe Claude who ruled that the midfielder had committed a foul en-route scoring.
But that did not deter KCCA as they continued to pile pressure on Azam and this time striker Sadat Anaku was inches off target with his header after his clever run was well picked out by left back Mustafa Kiiza.
Sulaiman ‘Mike’ Mutyaba’s created space for a shot after some brilliant link up with Muzamir Mutyaba but his effort was well matched by Azam goalkeeper Razak Abalora in the 19th minute. While Anaku placed his effort off the target with the goal at his mercy five minutes later.
Azam managed to hold on by half time, but after the resumption, it looked more like a matter of when and that moment will arrive in the 62nd minute. Kizza’s low drive took a deflection off defender Daniel Amoah with Razak well beaten as the kasasiro boys took the lead.
There were no further changes to the score line as Azam lost the title they had won for the previous two years.
Overall, despite most of the bigger sides fielding second string sides for the tournament, you cannot take it away from KCCA who as well fielded a largely young squad which included Anaku, Musa Ramadhan and Samuel Kato who were all just promoted to the senior side barely a month back.
Also KCCA FC didn’t lose a single game at the tournament drawing twice, against Bandari in the group stages while they required extra time to eliminate Green Eagles 4-3 in the semifinals.
The last time a Ugandan side won this tournament was in 2006 when Sam Timbe guided Police FC over Tanzania’s Moro FC. Then KCCA youngsters Allan Okello and Mustafa Kizza were just six and seven-years old respectively at the time.
KCCA will take home a prize money of $30,000 for winning the trophy while Azam pick up $20,000 for finishing second. KCCA players will also pocket $1,000 each from FUFA president Moses Magogo for winning the finals.
Meanwhile, Green Eagles of Zambia who lost to KCCA in the semi-finals defeated AS Maniema of the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 to take the bronze medal and $10,000 prize money.
