KCCA midfielder Umar Lutalo says his spectacular free kick in the Kampala derby is only the beginning, describing it as a moment that has fueled his hunger to achieve even more with the club.
The midfielder came off the bench in the 84th minute against his former side SC Villa and just five minutes later, curled home a breathtaking free kick to hand KCCA a 1–0 win at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
“I knew I would score,” Lutalo told KCCA FC TV. “The distance and angle were perfect. Once I saw the keeper’s position, I knew if I got it over the wall, it was a goal.”
He went on to liken his strike to Lionel Messi’s famous free kick against Liverpool in the 2019 UEFA Champions League, saying the resemblance gave him extra confidence. “It reminded me of Messi’s goal. The wall and keeper could do nothing,” he said.
The midfielder, who joined KCCA in January 2025 from Kitara FC, said scoring against his former team was special—but what it means for his future is even more important. “This goal will push me to achieve more,” he said. “It was a proud moment, especially with my mom and family watching back home. Their happiness motivates me to keep going.”
Lutalo recently signed a new two-year contract that will keep him at KCCA until 2027, a move that underlines his commitment to growing with the club.
Having already featured for Uganda’s U20 team at the 2023 AFCON in Egypt and earned senior national team call-ups for World Cup qualifiers, Lutalo’s ambition now lies in becoming a consistent match-winner at club and country level.
KCCA return to action this Thursday, October 16, hosting Lugazi under the floodlights at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
