NAIROBI, Kenya, August 8 – Substitutes Brian Majwega and Brian Umony netted a goal apiece to inspire Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) sink KPL champions Gor Mahia 2-1 as the Cecafa Club Championships got underway Friday at Rwanda’s Amahoro Stadium.
Talisman Dan Sserunkuma scored against his country’s outfit in the 26th minute to break the deadlock before Uganda Cranes duo, Majwega volleyed in to level the scores in the 51st with Umony sealing the win three minutes to the final whistle.
Gor head coach Bobby Williamson blamed poor defending from his charges for the defeat that leaves them with no option but to win two of their Group B matches to qualify for the quarter-finals.
“To be fair KCCA played better in the second half, we had our chances in the opening period but we did not make good use of it unlike our opponents who converted theirs into goals so they deserved to win the game.
“We defended badly in both goals so we have a lot of work to do,” The disappointed Scotsman who was appointed Harambee Stars head coach on Tuesday said after the loss.
“I would like to thank my players who did a wonderful job although we had a little bit of fatigue since we arrived yesterday.
“Three of our national team players changed the tempo especially Majwega and Umony they went under my instructions and gave us the victory, we didn’t play better but with we will improve,” KCCA head coach George Nseimbe declared after the win.
The first-half belonged to K’Ogalo who created numerous chances but could not convert them into goals except Sserunkuma who tapped in a Musa Mohammed cross from the left for the opener.
This is after Timothy Otieno saw his attempt cleared by defender Ronnie Kisseka just after kick-off before David ‘Calabar’ Owino missed the goal by a whisker after heading slightly above the crossbar.
Gor continued to raid the KCCA defence with Otieno finding the back of the net at the half hour mark only to be ruled off-side by the Burundian centre referee as keeper Vasin Mugabi stopped midfielder Geoffrey Kizito’s shot three minutes later.
Nseimbe introduced Majwega and Umony who both inspired Cranes to the 2015 African Cup of Nations group final group stage qualifiers and they duly changed the complexion of the game.
Majwega’s first touch could have resulted to a goal when he pulled the trigger that forced Harambee Stars keeper, Jerim Onyango, to punch the ball back to the box with Stephen Bengo heading the rebound wide.
Majwega’s hard work finally paid off at his second attempt when he volleyed home Tom Masiko’s cross for the equaliser.
Sserunkuma could have notched his brace in the 67th but Mugabi rescued his powerful header before denying Owino minutes later.
Majwega had a good run from the right to leave defender Harun Shakava for dead and execute a fine cross that Owen Kasule headed direct to Onyango who went on to deny the Cranes winger once again.
The Stars keeper did well to stop Masiko’s cracker that was on target for a fruitless corner but could not save Umony’s far post placed shot that sealed the win.
Gor next plays Burundi’s Atletico on Monday.
