Visiting KCCA down Tusker at Ruaraka

Tusker's Eugene Asike vies for the ball with KCCA's Brian Omony during their friendly match at the Ruaraka grounds, Nairobi on January 22, 2018. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Former league champions Tusker on Monday doled out a lackluster performance as they went down 1-0 to Ugandan champions KCCA (Kampala City Council Authority) in a friendly match staged at their Ruaraka home ground.
  • Sixteen-year-old Ugandan forward Steven Sserwada scored the sole goal for the visitors and the brewers were unable to provide any response for the duration of the match.
  • This was KCCA's second match in their week long Kenyan tour that saw them lose 4-2 to Gor Mahia last Saturday at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.

Former league champions Tusker on Monday doled out a lackluster performance as they went down 1-0 to Ugandan champions KCCA (Kampala City Council Authority) in a friendly match staged at their Ruaraka home ground.

Sixteen-year-old Ugandan forward Steven Sserwada scored the sole goal for the visitors and the brewers were unable to provide any response for the duration of the match.

This was KCCA's second match in their week long Kenyan tour that saw them lose 4-2 to Gor Mahia last Saturday at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.

It was also Sam Timbe's first major engagement since his appointment last month, and gave him a good chance to test the fitness levels of his new look team that is missing 14 players who featured prominently for the team last season.

As expected, Timbe paraded the new-look squad that had signings Timothy Otieno, Mathew Odongo, Apollo Otieno and Eric Ambunya all starting for the team.

Their collective team performance was however lethargic, with the brewers being embarrassingly outmatched in many aspects of the game despite having the home advantage.

Veteran goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng resumed the captain's duties once again following the departure of defender James Situma, who left the club at the end of the 2017 season, to join Kakamega Homeboyz.

The Ugandans, however appeared coy about using their new signings, with coach Mike Mutebi handing starting roles only to Sserwada and Hassan Musana.

Sserwada did not disappoint at all. Together with lead striker Allan Okelo, he displayed an outstanding performance, which was a pleasant contrast to his small frame and boyish face.

Apart from his brilliant twists and turns, his determination on the pitch earned the approval of many, including some Tusker fans, who urged the technical bench to consider roping him in before the current transfer window comes to a close on January 31.

After threatening throughout the first quarter hour, KCCA found their breakthrough in the 19th minute when the diminutive Sserwada found space on the right and easily shot home.

For that goal, the Tusker defenders have only themselves to blame and more so new signing Apollo Otieno, as they stood by and watched as the youthful Ugandan rush past them and closed in on goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng.

The hosts delivered a much improved performance in the second half, but opportunity was hard to come by given KCCA'S high pressing and keen defence.