MASAZA CUP 2024 SEMI-FINALS
KYAGGWE 2-1 BUWEEKULA (First Leg)
Sunday, October 13, 2024 [Second Leg]
BUWEEKULA VS KYAGGWE
@NTC MUBENDE at 3:00pm
MUBENDE: After a chastening defeat at the hands of Kyaggwe Ssaza Football Club, Buweekula’s coaching staff are under enormous pressure to respond on Sunday at home to pit their wits against Kyaggwe in the 2024 Masaza Cup Semi-Final at NTC Mubende.
The Nakayima Boys were stunned by Kyaggwe in a 2-1 loss last Sunday evening, thanks to striker Nyalimo Steven’s brace.
Kyaggwe travels to Mubende with a 2-1 lead and only need to defend their goal and book a draw to proceed to Namboole.
However, it seems the Nakayima Boys will have a busy day. They have to find a way to break Kyaggwe’s defense at least twice to get a 2-0 win and qualify for the finals, which will be held on November 2, 2024, at Mandela National Stadium Namboole.
Kyaggwe have not registered fresh injuries as well as Buweekula.
Kyaggwe’s Geoffrey Gaganga is expected to return to the starting lineup at NTC to play in the midfield alongside Fred, Mugalu David, and Mutebi Ivan with Mukwana Yusufu in a double false 9 with Nyalimo Steven.
Analysis
Analysis by Julius Adams Nsereko | Sports Journalist
Trust me this is a very hard game for Buweekula. It is all going to start from the lineup that the coach is going to pick for today’s game. If he gets it right, then Kyaggwe will be finished.
Why Did Buwekula Lose in Mukono?
In Mukono, I witnessed Kyaggwe starting at a slow pace with the intention to first study the game despite them conceding in the first 2 minutes when Asiimwe Harbert headed in from Aniku Fahad’s well-taken corner kick.
Getting that early goal was good for Buweekula although it seems it was the button to activate Kyaggwe’s players. Their reaction after the conceded exposed most of Buweekula’s weaknesses, the poor defending, low key positioning in the backline which prompted goalkeeper Ssenyonga Bashir to go off his goal line and leave Buweekula in suffering.
After Kyaggwe conceded, they dominated Buweekula only to relax after getting the first and second goal.
They were very good at pressing and most of their players are so confident with the ball and their high pressing is what will kill Buweekula today if they don’t stop it.
I also believe coach Felix and his staff were caught offside that day after failing to study the game situation when they failed to see that the backline was the issue and also failing to understand that having two holding midfielders was not benefiting the team which was 2-1 down by half an hour.
What should Buweekula do to win today?
Buweekula will have to fight to get the early goal to get pressure off themselves and then settle to play.
As I mentioned earlier, the coach has to get the lineup right, this is where it is all going to start. This is a big game which must be played but big players.
Coaches should immediately solve the defense issues when selecting the backline. Agaku made many errors in Mukono and his unseriousness surfaced again in Thursday’s friendly against Nabingoola FC. I think they should talk to him to focus or else I would choose Pariyo Culvini Ogubezo to play in the center back as a manmarker with Kikambi Martin as a sweeper.
I understand central midfielder Amour Munogera might start on the bench but this will be the waste mistake the coaching staff are going to make. I have been following Munogera, he prefers and actually plays better when he is standing alone behind the two attacking midfielders but they have been playing him in a double pivot. In all the games Buwekula has played with two holding midfielders, they have been the hardest. I think he needs to be given a responsibility today.
Bweekula has to bring in more ball players onto the starting lineup. We had three physical holding midfielders in Mukono but all were played out. Kyaggwe plays smart football, each player releases the ball on time. So not one you’re going to go physical with. You need players with smart intelligence of the game. The likes of Kayemba and Luyonde.
Despite the fact that Luyonde Jonathan only looks good when we have the ball and gets tired by half an hour, he has to start alongside Benjamin Amour as the two attacking midfielders.
Two attacking-minded players will help the team create more chances for the forwards. When they feed Nyanzi Shafic, who I think needs to start this game, he will score or make an assist.
I didn’t see Asimwe Harbert aka Camavinga in the friendly on Thursday but I believe the team need him too on one of the wings.
What is your Probable Line Up?
Of course, Ssenyonga Bashir is in the post though I think he also has to be vigilant this time. He has made back-to-back mistakes that have cost the team in the previous 3 games conceding at Mawokota, Kyaggwe, and in the same way to Nabingoola. He goes off his line and fails to meet the ball which ends up costing the team.
Aniku Fahad is in the right back, Defender Lugoloobi Shafic was also away throughout the week as he still battles to fit in at his new club URA FC but I will have him at the right back with Paliyo Calvin and Kikambi Martin in center back.
Amour Munogera is in the holding role with Benjamin Amour and Luyonde Jonathan behind Shafic Nyanzi with Kalema Jimmy on the right wing and Asiimwe Harbart alias Camavinga on the left wing.
Lukoye Sam and Kayemba had a very good display in Thursday’s friendly but I have them on the bench.
Men to Watch
Nyalimo Steven scored a brace but midfielder Mugalu David is the key player in starting Kyaggwe’s attacks. He should be given a close eye.
Luyonde Jonathan will be the man to take Buwekula to the Finals at Namboole. He scored a hattrick on Thursday. He has good dribbles; he is good with the ball driving it directly through the midfield to the opponent’s defense. His turns are phenomenal and that killer pass made Kalema Jimmy shine in Thursday friendly.
