Dethroned Uganda league champions Vipers SC pulled one back against new titleholders KCCA when the two giants, clashed in the first leg of the Uganda Cup competition semi- final at Nakivubo stadium on Wednesday.
KCCA Coach Mike Mutebi whose side finished four points better than second placed Vipers in the league look unlikely to win the league and Cup double, something previous generations of stars never achieved. The Kasasiro Boys suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat with goals coming from Uganda Cup topscorer Erias Ssekisambu and teenager Alfred Aleku in either half.
Mike Mutebi will now have a mountain to climb in the second leg if he is to eke his name in Ugandan football echelons as a member of the exclusive club of coaches that have won the double. Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was the last to achieve the feat in 2002 with SC Villa.
KCCA bankrolled by Jenifer Musisi’s might Kampala Capital City Authority lost their footing as early as the 8th minute of the game when Erias Ssekisambu received a through pass from Leku to beat opposing goalie Benjamin Ochan and tap home into an empty net for Vipers’ first of the evening.
The hosts panicked and at half time withdrew Magembe Emmanuel and Sembatya Godfrey for Hakim Senkumba and youngster Poloto Julius respectively but the duo did little to change proceedings in the final 45 minutes.
Fresh from being crowned 2016 Soroti Copa Coca Cola’s top marksman with St Mary’s Kitende, lanky Alfred Aleku stepped up immediately after the interval to score his first senior goal in the 50th minute which much or less killed the game off.
With a comfortable 2-0 cushion, George Best Nsimbe who won the Uganda Cup with Victors FC will welcome his former paymasters KCCA to Buikwe Stadium on Sunday with his sights set on progressing to the final. Vipers despite reaching two finals have never lifted Uganda’s oldest trophy losing to now demoted SC Victoria University and URA.
In the other semi-final, minnows Onduparaka will return to West Nile with faith after laboring to a slim 1-0 win former UPL side Entebbe FC thanks to talismanic Muhammad Shaban.
SC Villa who were eliminated by Onduparaka pimped KCCA to the Uganda Cup last season amidst chaos and cries of match fixing.
