New coach, new team, but ooh… poor Tusker can’t nail it still!

Ugandan Premier League champions Kampala City Council Authority(KCCA) beat hosts Tusker FC 1-0 in a friendly match staged at the Rauaraka Grounds on Monday.

Steven Serwanda scored the lone goal, to seal their first win in their friendlies in Kenya after losing 4-2 to Gor Mania on Saturday.

KCCA had the first real chance in the fourth minute when Isaac Kirabira’s 20-yard shot flew slightly over the bar with custodian Duncan Ochieng beaten.

Despite having most of the key players away in the African Nation Championship(CHAN), currently ongoing in Morocco, KCCA made light work of their Kenyan hosts who will have to do some soul searching before the  2018 Kenyan Premier League kicks off in under two weeks.

In the ninth minute, the visitors’ goalie Tom Ikara cleared from the line from a goal melee, with new Tusker’s signing Timothy Otieno’s deflected shot ricocheting towards the far right.

The breakthrough came in the 21st, Serwanda robbing off Eugine Asike and Justine Omary who were initiating a move from their goalmouth, before looping past helpless Ochieng to make it 1-0.

The speedy striker almost completed his brace at the half-hour mark, dancing around Tusker’s defenders only to shoot off target with only Otieno to beat in the six-yard box.

Unimpressed Timbe reacted by introducing former Bandari striker Edwin Lavatsa in the place of Appollo Otieno, shifting to a 4-4-2 system in a bid level before halftime.

Lavatsa’ s first attempt came in the 39th minute, forcing Ikara to a reflex dive to stop his well-executed diving header.

Ikara was alert enough to thwart Boniface Muchiri’s effort, a long-range shot from the left channel in what was the last attempt of the first stanza.

Upon resumption, both Tusker and their Ugandan counterparts executed changes, Hashim Sempala coming on for Omary while Solomon Okwalinga came off for Brian Omuny .

Ten minutes later, and without any significant impact, coach Timbe introduced former Nakumatt FC man Peter Nzuki into the fray resting Clifford Alwanga, but to no avail.

Muchiri had a chance to restore parity in the 58th, connecting Nzuki’s ball in the box after outdoing his marker, only to shoot wide. He was denied by Ikara once again with eight minutes on the clock, in the last attempt that would have earned the share of spoils.