The Kampala derby takes centre stage on Thursday night as the National Insurance Company (NIC) sponsored Express FC and KCCA renew their rivalry at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, with both sides desperate to recover from disappointing starts to the Uganda Premier League campaign.
Kick-off is at 8:00pm.
Neither side managed a victory on the opening weekend, leaving the derby carrying added significance.
KCCA were beaten 2-0 by city rivals NEC on Saturday, before Express suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to BUL the following day.
With both teams eager to put those setbacks behind them, Thursday’s encounter promises a fiercely contested battle for the capital’s bragging rights.
Express head coach Morley Byekwaso will come up against his former employers and will look to his experienced core, including Mathias Kigonya, Shafik Batambuze, Isaac Wagoina and Rogers Atube, to provide the cutting edge needed to breach a KCCA side led by the likes of Said Mayanja, Yunus Sibira, Shafik Nana Kwikiriza and Sammy Ssebaduka.
Byekwaso believes the Red Eagles have enough to frustrate KCCA’s possession-based approach.
“They (KCCA) are one of the best sides when it comes to short passes but we have a plan to stop that.
Against BUL, we had a good performance despite the defeat and we go again targeting maximum points against KCCA.”
Express have a relatively clean bill of health, with Moses Sseruyide the only reported injury concern.
KCCA, meanwhile, head into the derby with several absentees.
Striker Emmanuel Anyama, youngster Yian Gatbel and Gabonese forward Axel Mezui are unavailable, while new signing Ibrahim Kasule is not yet fully fit and could be restricted to a substitute appearance, according to head coach Ssenyondo.
History, however, favours the Yellow and Blue.
Since 2012, the two clubs have met 27 times in the Premier League, with KCCA winning 12, Express five and 10 ending in draws.
Express have managed only one home victory in that period—a 3-2 triumph on December 11, 2018, when Michael Birungi, Eric Kambale and Disan Galiwango scored for the Red Eagles, while Allan Okello netted twice for KCCA.
The rivalry also pits two of Uganda’s most decorated clubs against each other, with the sides combining for 21 league titles, KCCA accounting for 13 of them.
Elsewhere, Kataka will make its first home appearance in the Premier League when they welcome BUL to Bukedea Comprehensive Complex.
