Uganda: Motema Hurdle

James Ssekandi

18 March 2011

Victors coach George ‘Best’ Nsimbe admits his side are underdogs going into today’s Caf Confederation Cup first round tie against DR Congo’s Motema Pembe at Nakivubo.

“It is a daunting task,” Nsimbe said after yesterday’s training session. “But we can overcome the challenge.”

Two years ago, Victors earned their first continental outing in the same competition only to lose to Zimbabwe’s Caps United 2-0 on aggregate in the preliminaries.

This year, they have gone one better, making it to the first round after a gritty encounter with Swaziland’s Mbabane Highlanders, which they won 4-1 on penalties.

Regulation time over two legs had ended 2-2.

To edge the Congolese, Nsimbe is aware his side must not only create chances but be lethal in front of goal and defend smartly as well.

“We must score and keep a clean sheet,” Nsimbe said. “We cannot afford to chase the game in Kinshasha.”

To achieve the desired result, Nsimbe is counting on home ground support to corner Pembe at Nakivubo.

“Our fans can be the twelfth player,” Nsimbe reasoned.

Nsimbe is one of few Ugandan coaches with continental football experience having had a fair run with KCC in the 2008-2009 season.

Under Nsimbe, KCC dumped Mozambican side Ferroviaro de Maputo and South African giants SuperSport United before falling to Sudan’s El Merreikh in the Caf Champions League.

But Pembe present a different challenge altogether having proved to be one of the free-scoring sides in the competition this season. In the qualifying rounds, Pembe hammered Zanzibar’s KMKM 4-0 away and completed the job with 2-0 home win. Nsimbe knows his opponents’ dangerous raids at goal. “They play a high-tempo game,” Nsimbe cautioned. “They will be playing for an away goal so we must unsettle them. ” Pembe coach Moke Abede clearly stated on arrival in Kampala on Wednesday they are not losing any sleep going into the encounter.

“If it were Villa or Express, maybe we would have had a fight on our hands but not Victors,” Abede confidently said, revealing he had watched Victors in their game against Highlanders. “I was in the stands and didn’t see any threat about Victors.”

Like his counterpart, Abede is keen on getting a result in the first leg. “We play well on our travels and our target is to kill off the tie here because in Kinshasha the pressure is too much,” Abede added.

Rwandan referees will handle the tie. Issa Kagabo is the centre referee and will be assisted by Ambrose Ikismana, Honore Simba and Gervaise Munyaziza. South African Zely Maslangu is the match commissioner.

Victors v Motema Pembe

Victors’ probable line-up

A. Kimera, R. Lugolobi,

H. Kalanzi, I. Katwere, A. Kiiza,

E. Ssebuguzi, P. Sebuya,

M. Katenda, H. Mubiru,

Y. Mugalu, D. Sseruukuma.

Subs: M. Ojok, M. Musoke,

F. Muhumuza, G. Ssentongo,

H. Kaweesa, S.Sebunza, E.Luzige.

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