As KCCA FC prepare to host Mbarara City FC in the Round of 32 of the Plascon co-sponsored Uganda Cup this Sunday at the Phillip Omondi Stadium, the midfielder says belief in the camp remains strong.
Both teams head into the knockout tie struggling for consistency. KCCA have won two of their last five league games, while Mbarara City have managed one victory in the same spell.
But the league is on hold now. The cup offers something different, redemption and a shot at silverware.
Mugume began with gratitude, thanking God, the fans, management, coaches and teammates. His words reflected a united dressing room determined to sharpen its edge.
Last season’s finalists, KCCA know what knockout football demands. They opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over St George in Masindi.
Mbarara City edged Busia Youngsters 2-1 away to reach this stage. With a place in the Round of 16 at stake, there is no room for error.
For Mugume, character starts with the technical bench.
“You see how our coaches speak. That belief has grown in us,” he said. “Sometimes results don’t come, but we respond.”
Personal numbers, he added, are secondary. Whether playing deep or further forward, his focus is on the team.
“It’s about helping the team in scoring or assisting. That’s what matters.”
KCCA want another run to the final and this time, to finish the job.
“We are prepared. We have the same ambition as last season. If we did it before, why not again?”
Taking it one match at a time, Mugume believes, is the way forward.
Against a resilient Mbarara City side also chasing a turnaround, Sunday’s tie in Lugogo promises urgency, tension and the unforgiving edge only cup football brings.
