Caf Champions League

 Return leg, Saturday

 KCCA (0) v St George (0)

StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo

By Denis West

KCCA was on the brink of eliminating South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns at the same stage last season when they surrendered their 1-0 lead with nine minutes left on the clock to bow out.

Benjamin Ochan, then standing between the sticks for KCCA failed to keep out Anthony Laffor’s late striker for the visitors to advance with a 1-1 draw.

Lesson? Goalkeepers can also win you games and can shut out the attack minded opposition – something KCCA badly crave for with the tie still delicately poised at 0-0.

Until KCCA goalie Charles Lukwago emphatically closed out the Ethiopians in Addis Ababa, the club hadn’t kept a clean sheet away on the continent in seven outings.

Yet pressure will pile on the Lugogo club any time the visitors get that crucial away goal.

The Kasasiro boys manager Mike Mutebi admits St George has the capability to attack and score at Lugogo.

Don’t get surprised if the return match ends 0-0 and spot kicks are required – because KCCA attack force of Muhammad Shaban, Derrick Nsibambi, Patrick Kaddu and Paul Mucureezi are proving to be goal shy.

The striking quartet has produced only two goals in the last four games (CNaPS, Soana, St George and Masavu) – a worrying trend Mutebi hopes and prays ends in Saturday’s nerve-wracking encounter with the Ethiopians.

Lukwago, who has garnered nine league clean sheets, attributed his Ethiopian heroics to the team’s collective effort and believes with team work they can eject St George at home.

“It was not only me but the whole team. We had set a target to win and not concede but we settled for a draw. Now we must fight for a win at home,” the former Proline, SCVU and Lweza calm goalkeeper told the press recently.

With him in red hot form, KCCA haven’t missed Benjamin Ochan (now in Zambia) yet he says he still has room to improve on his ball distribution attributes if the team is to entirely count on him.

He made four crucial saves in Addis Ababa attracting praise from his Ugandan counterpart Robert Odongkara, who was minding St George’s net.

The Ethiopians too are counting on Odongkara (never mind he is doubtful for the game) to prevent KCCA from scoring. He was buoyant as he arrived at Entebbe Airport on Thursday – promising to have no mercy for the Ugandan club.

“It is emotional to play against a home team but you should know this is work, I can’t under perform because am playing a Ugandan team.”

Whereas Ondongkara will also be working to show Cranes coach Sebastien Desabre – expected to watch the game – that he is ripe to upstage long serving Denis Onyango, Lukwago will be proving to doubters that he has finally arrived at the table of men and they should lend him their trust.

When it gets to spot kicks in case of another barren draw – spectators will be treated to contest on who makes the best reflex saves.

The battle to keep a clean sheet on Saturday can’t get bigger than this and trust me; we have a tasty goalkeeper showdown on our hands.