Future FC was held to a goalless draw at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende as Ahmed Atef missed two big chances to give his side all three points and an advantage in the Preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.
Alex Isabirye will now seek at least a one-all draw in the return leg when they travel to Cairo in seven days if his charges are to advance to the next stage.
Future’s Ahmed Atef missed two big chances to give his side a better result which would have put them in the lead before he was substituted in the second half.
The Egyptian tried two volleys in the final third but went over the bar on the first try and into Saidi Keni’s palms on the second one, sending his team back home goalless.
BUL tactician Alex Isabirye says he is happy with the result and he will deliver a more open game in the return leg.
“I am glad we have played at this stage, we have been eager for this chance. This is our first time, we had only two players Ayiko and Karim who have played at this level. We didn’t have the experience so we sat back and waited for them. We were just not lucky to score.”
“We are playing a team coming from a stronger league than ours, that’s why we were abit defensive in the first half but we had to open up in the second leg”
Isabirye added that he is not worried about the second leg because Future also has a lot to do.
“We are going to look for goals in the return leg. They will not want to concede when we go to their home, so the game won’t be the same as it was today.”
Future Fc’s Coach Mohamed Abdelkarim Ismail said; “The most important thing is to not lose outside. It is our first time on artificial turf, and it’s a fair result. You can always do better at home. We tried to research the team and they have a good striker in number 20 (Karim Ndugwa) though they depended a lot on the long balls. We lost too many balls but we are happy to play outside our country, and the second round will be another scenario.”
Recognized for good hospitality, Uganda didn’t disappoint according to the Egyptian Coach.
About the feud in the Future camp by Goalkeeper Mahmoud Abdelrehim that almost ended in a physical exchange against themselves, he said It’s a normal reaction in football, two players arguing with each other, but everyone was okay in the dressing room in the end.
“I was very happy with the reception, everybody was fine with us.” He concluded.
Defender Omar Kamal had Future’s first shot on goal in the first half and it went over the bar before Ahmed Atef tried a volley in the Keeper’s box but Saidi Keni came to BUL’s rescue.
Ahmed Elsayed Reffat erred to connect Mohamed Farouk’s crosses in the box as BUL seized the most lot of set-pieces in the most sensitive areas but forwards Karim Ndugwa and Peter Oketch didn’t make sense out of Ibrahim Kazindula’s deliveries.
After a fruitless first half, Winger Kalyowa Reagan came on for defender Obua Emmanuel as Alex Isabirye tried to draw his charges towards the goal and open up the game.
BUL Fc returned with a better second half that could have changed the result as Ibrahim Mugulusi fired at goal, but Future Goalie Mahmoud Abdelrehim Ahmed was just at the right spot to punch the shot wide.
Forward Marwan Mohsen replaced Ahmed Atef in a gamble by Future to break the deadlock but in vain.
In other substitutions, Hillary Onek went off for Aprem Martin, Frank Kalanda came on for Ibrahim Mugulusi and Peter Oketch off for Mayanja Anthony.
Before the four added minutes, Mahmoud Sharafeldin replaced Mahmoud Farouk Ismail Salama in the Future squad.
The stalemate means BUL fc will have to secure a win, or atleast a one-all draw in the return leg to play the winner between Borgou (Benin) and Kallon FC (Sierra Leone) at the second preliminary round.
BUL Fc Starting XI
Saidi Keni
Obua Emmanuel
Ochora Walter
Kazindula Ibrahim
Ibrahim Mugulusi
Muganga Douglas (C)
Ayiko Richard
Ngobi Pascal
Ndugwa Karim
Onek Hillary
Oketch Peter
Substitutes
Emmanuel Kalyowa
Kalanda Frank
Kirya Jeromy
Tom Ikara
Kalyowa Reagan
Aprem Martin
Nsimbe Ibra
Tahomera Be on
Mayanja Anthony
Future FC Starting XI
Mahmoud Abdelrehim Ahmed Abdelrehim
Mahmoud Ahmed Mahmoud Rezk
Mohamed Farouk Ismail Salama
Ahmed Elsayed Reffat Ahmed
Joseph Jonathan Ngwem
Karim Walid Sayed Saleh Hassan
Saadeldin Samir Saad Ali (C)
Mohamed Reda Mohamed Abouelefetouh
Ghanam Mohamed Ghanam Abdalla
Omar Kamal Sayed Abdelwahed
Ahmed Atef Mouhran Mohamed
Substitutes
Mahmoud Sharafeldin
Nasser Maher Abdelhamid Abdelhamid Elnouhi
Marwan Mohsen Fahmy Tharwat
Aymen Sfaxi
Mostafa Mohamed Badry Ahmed
Mohamed Ali
Mohamed Ahmed Abdelaziz Youssef
