Do-or-die as Hasule wrestles old pals Villa in Kakungulu Cup
Sep 12, 2003
The Kakungulu Cup has always been Uganda’s traditional football holy grail, and the famous old trophy now presents Police FC tactician Paul Hasule’s last realistic shot at glory this season.
By Fred Kaweesi
2nd semi-final
SC Villa v Police
Namboole, 4.30pm
The Kakungulu Cup has always been Uganda’s traditional football holy grail, and the famous old trophy now presents Police FC tactician Paul Hasule’s last realistic shot at glory this season.
While SC Villa’s league title credence has been marred by atrocity, today’s first leg semi-final at Namboole offers Villa with a perfect start to pre-empt the suspicion that shrouded their historical outrageous 22-goal blitz against Akol early this month.
The departures of lead striker Ekuchu Kasongo to Belgium and Nestroy Kizito to France means Villa will face a somewhat tall order, but club tactician Micho Sredejovic has banished all nagging self doubts to recapture their form.
“We will depend on the brilliance of a few key players to win both legs. We will be playing a talented side but we are up to the task of winning both games convincingly,†he said.
Villa’s midfield will have to be at its creative best and the onus has been assigned to skipper Edgar Watson.
The attack will be lifted by the presence of the pocket-sized duo of Hakim Magumba and Phillip Ssozi who had to pass late fitness tests.
Police are however desperate to have something tangible to show for an unexpectedly impressive season and will be totally focussed for the tie.
“We are prepared and we will give the game the best we can. It gives us the chance of clinching silverware this season and that’s very possible starting with this game,†said coach Paul Hasule, a former Villa coach.
The club has neither won the cup before nor finished as runners up and will assemble a youthful squad lead by Geoffrey Serunkuuma, Joram Lutamaguzi, Alex Ndugga and Dan Mubiru that will want to shed that tag off.
2nd semi-final
SC Villa v Police
Namboole, 4.30pm
The Kakungulu Cup has always been Uganda’s traditional football holy grail, and the famous old trophy now presents Police FC tactician Paul Hasule’s last realistic shot at glory this season.
While SC Villa’s league title credence has been marred by atrocity, today’s first leg semi-final at Namboole offers Villa with a perfect start to pre-empt the suspicion that shrouded their historical outrageous 22-goal blitz against Akol early this month.
The departures of lead striker Ekuchu Kasongo to Belgium and Nestroy Kizito to France means Villa will face a somewhat tall order, but club tactician Micho Sredejovic has banished all nagging self doubts to recapture their form.
“We will depend on the brilliance of a few key players to win both legs. We will be playing a talented side but we are up to the task of winning both games convincingly,†he said.
Villa’s midfield will have to be at its creative best and the onus has been assigned to skipper Edgar Watson.
The attack will be lifted by the presence of the pocket-sized duo of Hakim Magumba and Phillip Ssozi who had to pass late fitness tests.
Police are however desperate to have something tangible to show for an unexpectedly impressive season and will be totally focussed for the tie.
“We are prepared and we will give the game the best we can. It gives us the chance of clinching silverware this season and that’s very possible starting with this game,†said coach Paul Hasule, a former Villa coach.
The club has neither won the cup before nor finished as runners up and will assemble a youthful squad lead by Geoffrey Serunkuuma, Joram Lutamaguzi, Alex Ndugga and Dan Mubiru that will want to shed that tag off.