By James Robert Kayindi
KCCA FC were denied a chance for the Kagame Cup silver wear since 1978 when Sudanese side El Merriekh knocked them out of the tournament in a penalty shoot-out. Ugandan born Jamal Salim saved two penalties on the day to crown South Sudan side (El Merriekh) winners which saw them eject Uganda’s champions from the ongoing CECAFA Kagame cup in Kigali, Rwanda.
The penalty shoot-out followed a 2-2 draw after extra time, to see the ex-Kampala Capital City Authority FC goalkeeper turn the guns towards former employers to save twice in the shootout. In a game where El Merriekh looked sharper and brighter, they almost took the would be earliest lead of the tournament in the first minute of the game when Allan Wanga intercepted Rogers Lukwiya’s back pass to lay a low pass to Mohammed Traore but his shot hit Richard Kasagga on the goal-line to save the ‘kasasiro boys’.
However KCCA FC’s didn’t sit back as they went ahead to make the first threat on goal in the 11th minute of the game when Brian Umony’s shot was saved by Jamal Salim into a corner when he received a ball from Owen Kasule. Despite KCCA’s efforts the first half ended in a 1-0 deficit on the Ugandan side after Sudanese side El Meeriekh had taken the lead through Traore.
Having made his first substitution in the first half immediately after his side conceded when he brought on William Wadri for defensive minded Rogers Lukwiya, George ‘Best’ Nsimbe was also forced to make another change at the kickoff of the second half due to the desire to level the game and take control as he brought on Herman Wasswa for left fullback Habib Kavuma a move that pushed Majwega to left fullback.
The two early substitutions made KCCA FC look stronger and more threatening and Wadri almost equalized for the Ugandan side but his shot inside the 18 yard area was well dealt with by Jamal. KCCA continued to push harder and their efforts paid off in the 50th minute through Tom Masiko after receiving a wonderful ball on the edge before shooting into the roof of the net beating Jamal on the near post.
In the 69 minute the Sudanese side restored their lead through Ragi Abdalate Abdallah who made an easy tap in after Mugabi parried Traore’s shot into his path however their second lead was shot lived when Brian Umony leveled matters after controlling Wadri’s pass before hitting it hard past Jamal to end it 2-2 after 90minutes of the game.
In extra time both teams came close to changing the score board with Traore and Allan Wanga nearly scoring for El Merriekh while Umony’s header hit the cross bar in the second half of extra time. In the shootout, Salim Jamal saved Majwega and Umony’s spot kicks while Masiko missed the target before Jamal netting the winner himself. KCCA FC lost 3-0 on penalties
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