Kitara FC coach Wasswa Bbosa and captain Jasper Aheebwa say the team is fit and confident ahead of Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup clash against Egyptian giants Al Ahly in Hoima.
Kitara FC coach Wasswa Bbosa has backed his team to overcome Egyptian giants Al Ahly when the two sides meet in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 32 at Hoima City Stadium on Saturday.
Bbosa said the Ugandan side was not intimidated by Al Ahly’s reputation on the continent, insisting Kitara had the quality to secure victory in front of their home supporters.
The coach said all his players were available for selection ahead of the 4pm kick-off, adding that hosting a club of Al Ahly’s stature was a valuable experience for Kitara.
While acknowledging the Egyptian side’s status in African football, Bbosa said his team was focused on delivering a positive result rather than dwelling on their opponents’ achievements.
He urged supporters to turn up in large numbers, describing them as an important source of motivation and financial support for the club.
Bbosa said the team wanted to reward its fans with a strong performance at home.
Kitara captain Jasper Aheebwa said the players understood the club’s ambition of advancing to the group stage and were determined to fight for qualification over the two legs.
Aheebwa said the team respected Al Ahly but was not afraid of facing the continental heavyweights.
He added that the players were physically prepared for the encounter and intended to use their home advantage to put themselves in a strong position before travelling to Egypt for the return leg.
Assistant coach Andrew Lule also expressed confidence in Kitara’s preparations, saying the team respected its opponents but believed it had lessons of its own to offer in the contest.
Goalkeeper Medi Kibirige called on supporters to fill the stadium, saying he was ready to deliver a clean sheet if selected for the match.
Midfielder Emma Wasswa said Kitara’s immediate target was to secure a convincing home victory that would give them an advantage going into the second leg.
Al Ahly arrived in Uganda on Wednesday and have been training in preparation for the encounter. The Egyptian club was scheduled to conduct another training session in Hoima on Thursday, with media access expected during Friday’s final session ahead of the match.
Kitara advanced to this stage after eliminating Somalia’s Mogadishu City Council, winning both legs to progress 4-1 on aggregate.
The Saturday fixture marks a major test for the Hoima-based club as it seeks to progress further in continental competition against one of Africa’s most established sides.
The return leg is scheduled for October 25 in Egypt, with the aggregate winner advancing to the next stage of the competition.