The last time KCCA FC won any silverware was in May 2019, when they registered a thirteenth Uganda Premier League title.
It was in the same period that Proline FC secured its first ticket to represent Ugandan football on the continent, after they beat Soltilo Bright Stars in the final of the Stanbic Uganda Cup, played at the Masaka Recreation Ground. By then, the charismatic goalkeeper Charles Lukwago was KCCA’s captain.
Lukwago even went on to inspire The Cranes to their last Cecafa Senior Challenge triumph under coach Johnny McKinstry. This was after the Northern Irishman replaced Frenchman Sebastian Desabre, who had led the Uganda Cranes to a second round finish in the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt.
It is hard to forget the heroics of goalkeeper Dennis Onyango in Cranes goal at that tournament, including, saving Sadio Mane’s penalty. On the other hand, Bright Anukani was the emerging star under the stewardship of coach Shafic Bisaso at Proline. Police FC Juma Balinya had a stellar season, emerging league top-scorer with 19 goals.
Right now, it is difficult to tell where Balinya is. Mike Mutebi, who coached KCCA to that league success is in semi-retirement. Proline now compete in the third tier of Ugandan football. Desabre is DR Congo coach, even though when he left Uganda, his first stop was Pyramids FC in Egypt, a team vying for its first Caf Champions League title, when they take on South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns this weekend in the second leg.
The aforementioned is proof of how much water has gone under the bridge since KCCA last won anything. So, when they walk onto the field at the Fufa technical centre of Kadiba in Mengo, it will be a new experience for most of their players; essentially a saving grace to what has been a listless six years.
Coach Abdallah Mubiru must be wondering how things unravelled for him, otherwise, he must be thinking that it would have been him leading KCCA this Saturday, May 31, the day of the final in his usual style of tightly fitting shirts and pants.
Yet, he was sacked in April, leaving the reigns for one of his assistants, Jackson Magera. The former SC Villa coach has guided KCCA to six wins in their last eight games, a pointer to some good form. But he has never won before as head coach. He came within 90 minutes of guiding Villa to the league title in May 2023, before URA FC spoiled the party.
Therefore, this final appears like a saving grace for the interim head coach. For one, the feeling is that Magera’s chances of becoming head coach hinge on this final outcome. However, the calm and collected tactician is unfazed by that subplot.
He said: “My focus is on ensuring that we do something good for our fans by winning the final, and I have no doubt that we have the capacity to win.”
The last time KCCA and Vipers contested a Uganda Cup final in 2018, the latter were chasing a double, but a Julius Poloto strike in Bukedea settled the game 1-0. This weekend, Vipers hope to complete a second league and cup double in their history. In fact, the Venoms come into the clash carrying the psychological advantage.
Vipers beat KCCA 2-0 in the second round of the recently concluded UPL. The first round ended 1-1 in Kitende. It is the spirit that saw them score a last minute equaliser through Ashraf Mugume, that Magera expects to see from his charges.
“One thing about this game is that it pits two top sides against each other. Whatever may have happened before does not really matter. But I am sure, my players are upbeat and ready for the battle. We have no fear,” Magera said.
Incidentally, the 2017/18 season lends credence to what Magera is saying. Before the final in Bukedea in 2018, Vipers had beaten KCCA 3-2 in April at the St Mary’s stadium.
However, the final turned out to be a different ball game. In the Uganda Cup, KCCA are joint record ten-time champions alongside Express, while Vipers are seeking a fourth cup. Vipers remain a long way off KCCA’s Uganda Cup record, but like coach Fred Muhumuza noted, after lifting the league title last weekend, the hunger for more is supreme.
None more so than Vipers defender, Patrick Mbowa feels this way. Despite this being his eleventh season in the UPL, the lanky defender’s first taste of silverware was last weekend in Kitende.
No doubt that Mbowa is a good footballer, but to him, without trophies, he felt empty. But all this, after playing for SC Villa and URA FC along the way.
The Cranes defender said: “Now that I have won the league, I also want to win the Uganda Cup.” Yet, Mbowa acknowledged that KCCA are no chicken fodder. He noted that it will be a fight, where the one that wants it more on the day shall prevail.