KCCA poor start continues after loss to Maroons

Uganda Premier League 

Tuesday Results 

KCCA 1 Maroons 2

Mbarara City 0 Vipers 0

KCCA FC fans were left divided at full-time after their side suffered a 2-1 defeat to high-flying Maroons in the Uganda Premier League on Tuesday Night at the Philip Omondi Stadium Lugogo.
 to continue their poor start to the 2023-2024 campaign.

The disgruntled fans were seen and heard locked in bitter arguments amongst themselves, with some criticizing head coach Sergio Traguil’s tactics saying that they are dragging the team backward.

Others criticized their players, especially the defenders for Fred Amaku’s goals which to them, they were claiming that Peter Magambo and Herbert Achai did not do enough to stop the poacher from getting his brace.

Tuesday’s defeat further increased pressure on the Portuguese tactician, this was his second league defeat in a row having fallen to BUL 1-0 on match day one.

At full-time, Sergio refused to speak to the media and spent close to 40 minutes alone in one of the goalposts, not saying a word.

Maroons Mujahid Ogama celebrates their second goalagainst KCCA FC during a Uganda Premier League match at the Phillip Omondi stadium, October 3, 2023. Maroons won 2-1. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

KCCA's goal in this match was scored by Muhammad Shaban and Usama Arafat had his penalty saved after he flashed the ball on the crossbar. 

Last week, Sergio witnessed his KCCA side exit the CAF Confederation Cup on the final qualifying round despite winning the return leg 3-2 at St Mary’s stadium against Abu Salim but the Libyan side had won the first leg 3-1 and progressed to the group stages on a 5-4 aggregate.

Sergio was appointed in July this year on a two-year employment contract replacing interim Jackson Mayanja but he has since struggled so much to live up to his promises, in the three months he has been in charge.

First-team coach Jackson Magera while explaining the current state of the team, said that they are still in transition and it takes time to get the team in the right shape but he is hopeful they will improve.

“It is a poor start and I can understand the frustration of everyone but we should not lose hope, the team is in transition and it takes time to get everything right. But we promise you that this will soon be over and our team will improve.” Magera promised.

KCCA returns to action on Sunday against James Odoch’s Express FC.

On the other hand, Maroons head coach Mohamed Ssenfuma attributed his side's high flying start to the season to his players playing to instructions and believing in themselves. 

"Before we played our first game of the season, I told my players that they are not different from those at other big teams like KCCA, I also encouraged them to always believe that they can match them in quality and other things."

"Against KCCA, I told them that we should allow the opposition have the ball and catch them on break and it worked for us very well to win the game." Ssenfuma explained. 

Last season Maroons collected four points from KCCA,  they beat them 1-0 in Luzira before sharing spoils in a 1-1draw at Lugogo.