Ssekajja: KCCA drop in form down to factors beyond their control

KCCA FC players led by midfielder Allan Okello warm up before a game | Photo Credit: KCCA FC media (Robert Mulamule)

SUPL Ssekajja: KCCA drop in form down to factors beyond their control

Shafic Kiyaga 13:08 - 13.04.2023

KCCA, who finished the first round top of the league, have struggled in recent games, drawing their last three matches against Blacks Power, Maroons, and UPDF.

KCCA FC chairman Martin Ssekajja, has expressed concern over the club’s recent dip in form in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League, but remains confident that the club will bounce back and remain in contention for the league title.

KCCA, who finished the first round top of the league, have struggled in recent games, drawing their last three matches against Blacks Power, Maroons, and UPDF.

Speaking to New Vision, Ssekajja admitted that the team's drop in form was a "big concern" but pointed out that several factors, both within and outside their control, had contributed to the poor performances.

Ssekajja insists that tactics are not part of the problems at the club, rather pointing to issues like fixture scheduling.

This comes after KCCA fans made clear their lack of confidence in head coach Morley Byekwaso and his coaching staff, while several board members are said to have called for a change after their 1-1 draw against UPDF on Sunday.

"It is a big concern because we finished the first round on top of the table and we thought we would build on that," said Ssekajja. "Unfortunately, results have not turned out as expected."

"Some people think it's tactics (to blame), but there are quite a number of concern. We had a one-month layoff without active football while the team was still on form," he reasoned.

“We now have a back-to-back fixture, that is played at least two to three days after, and the distance between the teams doesn't help," Ssekajja continued.

The KCCA chairman is understood to retain confidence in Byekwaso to turn around their season, stating that they are still in contention for the two trophies available, and a sack is therefore unwarranted.

He further cited officiating as an issue that has impacted KCCA's recent results saying; "In some matches, you feel the officiation does not meet the expectations.”

“We don’t feel fair judgement in some of their refereeing decisions. Some of these referees are always the same people who never see the goals we score.”

“They disallow authentic goals and we feel they are protected so we don’t want to complain much about the referees,” he said.

However, Ssekajja acknowledged that part of the problem has been the team's own profligacy in front of goal, and like Byekwaso called out the players to take responsibility for some of the results.

"The other issue is (failure in) converting the chances we get," he said. "I think the players need to take accountability for their performances."

"But we still have crucial games ahead of us, and we hope to turn things around," he said.

KCCA FC will be looking to improve their form when they take on Bright Stars in the Uganda Cup on Sunday, followed by league matches against URA, SC Villa, and Vipers in the coming weeks.