KCCA captain Julius Poloto has labelled the upcoming Uganda Cup final against Vipers SC as a “redemption game,” underlining the significance of the clash as a final opportunity to salvage silverware in what has been a largely underwhelming season for the Lugogo-based side.
The highly-anticipated final will take place this Saturday, May 31, at the FUFA Technical Centre in Kadiba.
For KCCA, the stakes are sky-high. Not only will a victory end a six-year trophy drought, but it will also secure a coveted spot in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup.
KCCA finished fifth in the recently concluded Uganda Premier League season, far from the standards expected of a club that boasts 13 league titles.
The club has also won 10 Uganda Cup crowns, making them joint record holders alongside Express.
Poloto, who has battled a string of injuries throughout his career, believes now is the moment for both personal and team redemption.
“I’m ready because I’ve played some games before the final. Yes, I’m always on and off but personally I feel that I’m ready. It’s good that I played 90 minutes in the last game, that gives me confidence,” Poloto said.
The midfielder recently returned to form with a brace in KCCA’s 3-0 demolition of Express in the final league match at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo; a performance that has renewed his belief.
Having scored the winning goal in the 2018 Uganda Cup final, also against Vipers, Poloto is no stranger to rising to the occasion. This time, however, the urgency feels greater.
“It will be a game of redemption because this is something we really want. We want it so bad and everyone is focused on that,” he said.
Despite the pressure surrounding the final, Poloto insisted the team is calm and focused.
“Even though it’s a big game, we’re not under so much pressure. It’ll be a normal game,” he noted.
KCCA’s opponents, Vipers SC, come into the fixture buoyed by clinching the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League title and will be gunning for a domestic double.
The rivalry between the two clubs adds an extra layer of intrigue to what promises to be a fiercely contested final.
