Azam Uganda premier league
KCCA FC vs JMC Hippos
Phillip Omondi stadium 4:00pm
Reigning league champions KCCA football club will start their title defence this Friday with a home fixture against boggy side Jinja Municipal Council Hippos as the Azam Uganda premier league 2016/17 kicks off.
However, the defending champions will be without influential midfielder Muzamir Mutyaba who is sidelined with a muscle strain.
Mutyaba who was recently crowned the league’s best midfielder picked up the injury in the Fufa super cup tie against Vipers last week and will be out of action for about two weeks.
Morley Byekwaso, KCCA’s assistant coach believes the other available players can fill Mutyaba’s void in tomorrow’s game.
“We have a broad squad with two or three players in each position, so I think the rest of the players will cover that gap.” said Byekwaso.
“JMC is a good side, they are very organised especially in defence but we have an edge over them that can help us win tomorrow’s game.” he added.
Mutyaba joins Jackson Nunda and Hassan Wasswa “Dazo” who are also yet to recover.
On the other side, JMC coach James Odoch will start new season after losing last season’s captain Richard Wandyaka to URA but the tactician believes he has a strong squad.
“We have a good team, we have been training hard and I think the boys are prepared to take on KCCA. No injury concerns at the moment and I believe we shall pick maximum points tomorrow,” he said.
Odoch also is expected to hand diminutive winger Vianney Ssekajugo his debut at JMC since switching from The Saints.
The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-0 win for KCCA with Paul Mucureezi and Dennis Okot scoring for the Lugogo based club.