CAF CONFEDERATION CUP: Big tasks await Cecafa teams in second leg ties

Five teams from the Cecafa region will face tricky battles in the return legs of the Total CAF Confederation Cup play-off round. In the first leg ties played last weekend all Cecafa representatives failed to win with Young Africans (Tanzania) falling 2-1 to Pyramids (Egypt) in Dar es salaam.

Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC also settled for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo’s Motema Pembe in Nairobi, while Algeria’s Paradou AC held KCCA FC (Uganda) to a barren draw in Kampala. Kenya’s Bandari FC lost 4-2 away to Guinea’s Horoya AC. Uganda’s Proline FC put up a spirited fight to hold Libya’s Al-Masr 2-2 in a game played in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

But KCCA FC’s head coach Mike Hillary Mutebi says they have a chance to turn tables in Algeria. “It is unfortunate we failed to score at home, but we a lot of discipline in defending and taking our chances in-front of goal we can make it to the group stage,” said Mutebi.

For Proline FC’s Mustafa Mujuzi who scored one of the goals in the vital 2-2 away draw, he thinks they still have a lot to do if they are to make history and qualify for the group stage.

“We need to be very cautious and defend well, but also make sure we are sharp at goal. We call upon football fans to come in big numbers to give us support because this match means a lot for us,” added Mujuzi.

Gor Mahia’s British born coach Steven Polack says although they deserved to win the first leg, he will change strategy for the return leg. “We created so many chances but failed to score. The players must remain focused for the return leg and have the confidence that we can get a positive result to qualify for the group stage,” added Polack.