Morley Byekwaso should apologise to KCCA FC and football fans

Morley Byekwaso struggled to get thigs right at KCCA |Pulse Sport UG Image

OPINION Morley Byekwaso should apologise to KCCA FC and football fans

Ndyamuhaki J Emanzi 12:10 - 20.08.2023

It might be too early to judge, but the sight of young goalkeeper Anthony Emojong comfortably playing out from the back is quite refreshing and tells you about a team whose players have been empowered by the coach to enjoy playing the game.

There is excitement at the MTN Omondi Stadium, and several KCCA FC fans cannot wait to see their team in action.

On Friday, before the clash between the Kasasiro Boys and URA FC was postponed, a young man walked into the KCCA offices to buy 15 tickets.

He was excited and could not wait for Sunday. A URA side that has given KCCA problems in recent times was coming to town, and yet the young man seemed extremely confident his side would get the result and march on to the FUFA Super 8 Tournament final.

And that young man is not the only one feeling confident.

There is a sense of belief and excitement in every KCCA FC fan you come across ahead of the new Startimes Uganda Premier League, and the reason is simple.

KCCA are playing football again, something that did not happen when Morley Byekwaso was the head coach at the football club.

Actually, Morley Byekwaso might be better served watching the new-look KCCA FC in action, and that is if he has further ambitions of becoming a head coach again.

Under new tactician Sergio Traguil, KCCA have rediscovered their possession-based style of play, which has been the team’s identity since time immemorial.

And while it is fair to say Traguil has been heavily backed in the transfer market, you cannot suggest that Byekwaso had no human resource to oversee good football at Lugogo.

He had the likes of Ashraf Mugume, Moses Waiswa, Julius Poloto, Allan Okello and Mustafa Kizza in his side but still failed to come up with anything close to what KCCA fans are seeing right now, even before the season starts.

It might be too early to judge, but the sight of young goalkeeper Anthony Emojong comfortably playing out from the back is quite refreshing and tells you about a team whose players have been empowered by the coach to enjoy playing the game.

The team is creating a lot more chances and dictating matters. They are not scoring one goal and closing shop to hang on.

Against Wakiso Giants in the Super 8, Traguil played with a back line that had Harunah Lukwago and Herbert Achai on the wings while Philbert Obenchan and Peter Magambo were in the centre.

All these were part of the team under Byekwaso but were set in panic mode every time they played.

Moses Waiswa looks like he is enjoying playing football again, and the coach has made it clear there is no guaranteed spot for anyone on the team.

Brazilians Joao Gabriel and Vinicius Michael, and Angolans Emilson Gonzaga, Cungulo Da Silva, Adilson Bruno and Étienne Katenga Openga are some of the players KCCA have invested in, and that has added to the excitement.

It is too early to judge but not too early to tell a team working on specific methods and approaches. You would struggle to explain how KCCA played under Byekwaso.

He set up like a lesser team going into big games, and his side was always there for the taking because of the lack of intensity.

He assembled players with creativity and yet still struggled to get them to create and put away chances.

All that burden lies with the coach. And he failed at it.

KCCA might lose games and even fail to win the title this season, but one thing is for sure, they will play football the KCCA way. And you can see it already before a ball is kicked in the league.

Under Byekwaso, the team could neither play nor win silverware.