Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Hoima-based club Kitara FC will make its debut on the continental stage when they face Libya’s Al Hilal Benghazi in the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederations Cup. The match will be played on Friday at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi.
The team qualified for the Confederations Cup after winning the Uganda Cup last season. They arrived in Benghazi, Libya, on Tuesday to prepare for the match.
Despite being the designated “hosts,” of the first leg, Kitara will play both legs of at Al Hilal’s stadium, due to challenges they faced in securing a venue in Uganda.
Kitara FC, faced a significant setback when they were unable to secure a stadium in Uganda. St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, which has often been an option for many Ugandan clubs, was unavailable for Kitara’s fixture.
The team then turned to Namboole Stadium, but the management denied them access, citing ongoing renovations and concerns that the pitch’s newly installed tartan could be damaged.
With no other options, Kitara FC had to relinquish their home advantage and play their “home” game away, a daunting prospect given their lack of experience at this level of competition.
Although SC Villa, which is participating in the CAF Champions League preliminary round, managed to negotiate late access to the stadium, with the assistance of Sports Minister Peter Ogwang, unfortunately for Kitara, this was too late, as they had already made the journey to Libya.
This development was a major blow for the Royals, who are renowned for their passionate home crowds that often intimidate opponents and perhaps contribute to their success in the Uganda Premier League.
Striker Denis Omedi acknowledged the situation, stating that while most fans will be watching the game on TV, the players are fully committed to playing for the badge and repaying the fans’ unwavering support.
Kitara FC travelled with a squad of 20 players who participated in their first training session on Tuesday. Only defender Benjamin Nyakoojo, midfielder Frank Zaga, and striker Brian Aheebwa have previous continental experience, making this a maiden appearance for most of the squad.
However, Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo remains optimistic about his team’s chances, “We tested our team quite well with important games like the FUFA Super 8 and two International friendlies which have helped us assess their performance, among other things. We are impressed with the team’s coordination and character, and more progress is being made”. The team Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo said after the training session.
Despite their inexperience, Kitara FC can find some comfort in the fact that their opponents, Al Hilal Benghazi, are not a dominant force on the continent because they have also participated in CAF competitions twice, in 2001 and 2003, with a second-round appearance in the latter season being their best achievement.
The winner on aggregate will advance to face Egypt’s Al Masry in the next round of the preliminary round.
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