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Kampala Capital City Authority’s double hopes this season went up in flames at Lugogo after a damaging defeat to Soltilo Bright Stars on Friday evening.
Marvin Young man’s strike for the Bright Stars was enough to eliminate Morley Byekwaso’s side from Stanbic Uganda Cup at the round of 64.
KCCA FC, who are the joint-record winners of the Uganda’s League cup with 10 title have struggled in the competition in the last couple of years since they last won in 2018.
In 2019, the then Mike Mutebi coached side was knocked out at the round of 32 by Tooro United following a 3-1 shootout loss at Buhinga, while last season, they were knocked out by Express on away goals rule after a 1-all aggregate scoreline.
There is no disguising that KCCA’s Uganda Cup elimination is a big setback – one that will raise more scrutiny for Morley’s tenure at the club and may be headed for difficult coming weeks especially now that they will have to fight tooth and nail to challenge Vipers and URA for the StarTimes Uganda Premier League title.
In the Uganda Premier League, the Kasasiro Boys sit just behind leaders Vipers, having lost just one of their first 18 games. The results haven’t been convincing at all in the last 8 games in the league. They have scored more than once in a single game on just two occasions, something that should worry the faithful of the side that has seen two seasons without a single title. Their counterparts, Kitende based Vipers has scored the most in the league (41).
The City Authority hierarchy has provided Morley Byekwaso with everything that is needed to get the club back to where they were two seasons ago (under Mike Mutebi), to the top and this includes shipping in more 15 players in just two windows (bringing back most of the experienced players that played for the club). It can only be serious enough that to be assured of keeping his job, he needs to win something, which is in this case only the Uganda Premier League.
Else, he could face the sack and be replaced by now the jobless Sam Simbwa (as rumours suggest), who has for long confessed his admiration of coaching the Kasasiro Boys before he retires.
Byekwaso and expectations
When KCCA FC trusted Morley Byekwaso to take on the mantle of returning the Lugogo based side to where they belong, a lot was expected from the former Victoria University and UPDF FC head coach cum assistant at KCCA FC.
After many years of working under Mike Mutebi, the Lugogo faithful felt that he had mastered ‘their way’ of play, something that has not been seen throughout this season. KCCA FC is always expected to play good and entertaining football coupled with positive results, something that he has not lived up to. They have found the results but not playing so well particulary.
Byekwaso’s side has lacked the presence in front of goal and has always appeared like they rush their build ups into cross-balls. It worked at the start, but he got figured out eventually and that’s how their goals reduced significantly for most part of the second round.
The Promise of good football and results has not come and this is the same reason why Mike Mutebi, who had won the club many titles was fired.
Morley is also great at player management as on several occasions blamed his players in public for letting him down in games they have lost or drawn (this is including the Bright Stars’ game).
The anger that many fans felt when Mike Mutebi was fired and replaced with his assistant may soon be seen by the hierarchy at Lugogo if results don’t change.
Byekwaso’s next game is a Kampala derby against Express FC which might offer an ideal match to bounce back or dig his grave more.
