Kampala Queens assistant coach Shafic Mutebi has challenged his side to settle their FUFA Women’s Cup quarter-final against St Noa Girls within normal time as the club seeks a historic place in the last four.
The two sides meet on Saturday at MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo, with Kampala Queens aiming to move beyond the quarter-final stage for the first time in the competition’s history.
Mutebi said his players were determined to avoid a prolonged contest against opponents who have become familiar rivals in recent seasons.
“We want to kill the game in 90 minutes,” Mutebi said ahead of the tie.
“This is a team we understand, but they are also very stubborn. We have to be on the front foot from the start and take control early.”
The fixture carries extra significance for Kampala Queens after St Noa ended their Women’s Cup campaign at the same stage last season with a 3-2 victory. The teams also shared honours in the recently concluded Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League campaign, with each side winning once.
Mutebi acknowledged St Noa’s strong record at Lugogo but believes his side is better equipped to handle the challenge this time around.
“They’ve beaten us here before, so we know what can happen if we don’t start well. But we believe we are in a better place now as a team and we are ready to handle the moment,” he said.
Kampala Queens will be without leading scorer Catherine Nagadya, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the Round of 16 victory over She Kasese. Nagadya finished the league season with 10 goals and has been one of the team’s most influential attacking players.
Despite her absence, Mutebi expressed confidence in the squad’s depth.
“We shall miss Catherine, yes, but it’s not a problem for us. We have options and this is an opportunity for someone else to step up,” he said.
The coach’s confidence has been boosted by his side’s recent performances, particularly their composed display in the previous round, as Kampala Queens look to finally break through the quarter-final barrier and keep their pursuit of Women’s Cup glory alive.
