KCCA FC striker goes AWOL amidst heavy links to Vipers

KCCA FC's preparations for the upcoming StarTimes Uganda Premier League have hit a snag after one of their top strikers went AWOL.

Gangly forward Tshisungu Kankonde is nowhere to be seen, having gone away without official leave for four days now.

Pulse Sports understands that the Congolese-born had been named in KCCA FC's starting lineup before Sunday's FUFA Super 8 3rd/4th playoff game against SC Villa, but he did not show up, forcing head coach Sergio Traguil to make changes.

The Lugogo-based side won the game 3-2 to finish third in the FUFA Super 8, but the club has since mounted a search for the forward in vain.

A source that preferred anonymity confirmed the development, revealing that the search continues.

"He (Kankonde) has indeed absconded from duty without any communication, and we continue to search for his whereabouts," the source noted.

Kankonde joined KCCA FC at the start of the 2022 season but struggled for form, managing seven goals across all competitions.

However, in May, the 23-year-old was slapped with an eight-game ban after the FUFA Competitions Disciplinary panel reprimanded him for throwing a punch to center referee Mashood Ssali in the closely contested league game against Vipers at St. Mary's Stadium Kitende.

Kankonde is said to be trying to force a move to Vipers

Pulse Sports reliably understands that the Venoms assistant coach Lukusa Kayembe Raoul, Kankonde's compatriot, is believed to be engineering the move, although the forward is still contracted with the Lugogo-based side.

KCCA FC, who finished third in the FUFA Super 8 tournament, got a bye in the CAF Confederation Cup and will face Libyan side Abu Salim SC in the second preliminary round.

The thirteen-time league champions recently appointed a new board headed by Eng. Andrew Sserunjoji Mukiibi.