KCCA include Kankonde in 34-man second round squad

'Forgotten man' Simon Tshisungu Kankonde could have the rarest of opportunities to revive his career after KCCA FC included him on their squad for the second round of the campaign.

After reports of going AWOL in September last year, Kankonde hasn't surfaced on the local football scene or made a single appearance for the 13-time Uganda Premier League champions this season.

The Congolese forward disappeared after KCCA FC's 3-2 win over S.C Villa in the FUFA Super 8 third/fourth place playoff and has since not returned to the side.

It was indicated that Kankonde's disappearance stemmed from the gangly forward's misunderstanding with former head coach Sergio Traguil about his lack of playing time.

Kankonde believed he had fallen down the pecking order, yet he deserved to start in the club friendlies, something Sergio addressed, assuring the forward that it would only come with time in the season.

Close sources to the former AS Dauphin Noir de Goma forward indicated that Kankonde was irked by Traguil's response and chose to leave.

While Kankonde has never received an official 'bye' from the club, Traguil, on the other hand, was axed after a series of dismal results.

It now awaits to see if Kankonde will be back playing for the Kasasiro Boys going forward.

Kankonde, 23, joined KCCA at the start of last season on a two-year deal but struggled for form, managing seven goals across all competitions.

In May 2023, he was slapped with an eight-game ban after the FUFA Competitions Disciplinary panel reprimanded him for throwing a punch to centre referee Mashood Ssali in the closely contested league game against Vipers SC at the St. Mary's Stadium Kitende.