With both Express FC and KCCA FC continuing to struggle through the 2025-2026 season, their usually anticipated clash has turned up for tomorrow, October 23, at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
Ahead of the clash, KCCA FC stands somewhat with a 2-1 win over their other rivals, SC Villa, and two draws against Kitara FC and Lugazi FC in their last outing.
Express FC has played three games and won once, in the opening week of the league, beating UPDF FC 1-0, scored by Herbert Asiimwe; in the run, they lost 2-1 to Police FC and drew their third game with URA FC.
Both teams still lack players with the courage to carry the responsibilities, so Express FC looks more disorganized defensively.
With Ashiraf Mbazira, who they relied on in defense last season, he is struggling, having lost his last season partner, Harbert Achai, who returned to KCCA FC, and Dowson Mafumu, who also joined KCCA FC.
Now, having Derrick Ngoobi, Joseph Ziwa, and new signings Faizo Kyazze Wamala from Buganda Regional League club KIRA United, seems to lack the defensive prowess of the top flight, despite the experience of Ngoobi.
Though they lay their hope in going forward with the likes of Muhammad Ssenoga Kagawa, Richard Basangwa, Herbert Asiimwe, and Henry Wamala Kalagi, Ronald Andabatti, Elvis Ssekajugo, and experienced Moses Oloya provide options for Badru Kaddu’s team selection but they also remain below KCCA standards on paper.
Meanwhile, KCCA FC, under Jackson Magera Kaddu, seems to have a proper team, just lacking the patterns to get the work done.
Though they lost Usama Arafat to Vipers SC, their squad remains strong, having kept other important players like Joel Sserunjogi.
Additionally, they upgraded their goalkeeping with the return of Charles Lukwago, who is now the team captain, and the defensive department with Hassan Muhamood, Enock Walusimbi, and Harbert Achai, who missed the last games while on the national team.
Upfront, KCCA FC also upgraded with Ivan Ahimbisibwe joining Emmanuel Anyama, thereby forming a better squad than they had last season.
In the game tomorrow, Express FC will miss big-game player Ramsey Kawooya through injury, Jimmy Logoro, who is busy with studies, and John Asiimwe, who is with the U17 National team for the FIFA World Cup in Dubai as they head to Qatar.
On the KCCA FC side, they will miss Co-Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo and players like Brian Jjara and Pius Ogema, all on U17 National Team duties.
In the last meeting, KCCA FC won the clash 3-0 at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, in May this year; Julius Poloto, who left the club for SC Villa, was the scorer.
In the last five meetings, both teams have registered two victories, while the other game ended 0-0.
