URA coach Downplays Team's Chances In Cameroon

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) FC Coach Paul Nkata downplayed his team’s chances as they left for Garoua, Cameroon on Thursday morning to face Cotton Sport in the CAF Champions League. The team left for Cameroon aboard a Kenya Airways flight ahead of their tricky first leg battle on Sunday in Garoua. New Coach Nkata told Uganda Radio Network on phone from Entebbe International Airport before departure that they are not in good shape for the game. He said the team he joined just over three weeks ago is still not to their best and that they have a long way to go, adding that playing in Cameroon will be a struggle. The former Cranes attacking midfielder, also coach of the Under 20 national team, said they will have to put up a tough show and fight to get some goals before the return leg. He lamented that most of his players don’t have the physical approach which is typical of West African football. He however said despite the bad shape, they will try to attack and defend in numbers so that they get a decent result away. Nkata explained that since the departure of striker Robert Ssentongo to Ethiopia, the club has problems finding the net. He noted that the burden now falls on strikers Erisa Sekisambu and Elukana Nkugwa to do some magic. URA entered the more lucrative Africa Chempions League instead of the CAF Confederation Cup that they had qualified for after winning the Bell Uganda Cup. They opted for Champions League after Ugandan League champions, Express FC, failed to register because of financial problems. In 2007 the same Cameroon side Cotton Sport ejected URA at the same stage after winning 3-0 in Duala and drawing 0-0 in Kampala. Club Secretary Henry Mayeku said the team is expected to leave Duala on Friday for the match venue which is 1173km away. Besides the 16 players that include Cranes Internationals Simeon Masaba and Saidi Kyeyune, three other URA staff Sarah Birungi, Charles Lukwago and Edson Bajenja also accompanied the team. FUFA’s head of the marketing department, Rogers Byamukama, is head of delegation.