NEWS

01-18-2009

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Subject : Four in battle of survival as Group B matches end
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Zambia v Sudan, Nakivubo 2pm
Kenya v Burundi, Nakivubo 4pm

The rush for semi final places in Group B gets down to the wire Thursday when Zambia takes on defending champions Sudan as Kenya plays a high riding Burundi in the Cecafa senior Challenge Cup in Kampala.
Of the five teams that staged their preliminary matches in the Jinja-based Group B, Djibouti has completed their matches, finishing at the bottom of the table. They will thus not be around to see who joins them for the early
trip home.
The four remaining all have a chance at making the semis, but that would change Thursday afternoon when they square themselves out.
Burundi who were never among the favourites from this group go into the final round top of the table with seven points from three matches. They thus need only a draw to confirm their semi final place. Slow starters Kenya are
second with five points, enjoying a better goal aggregate over guest side Zambia. Sudan are the most endangered as they lie fourth with two points from three matches.
Burundi’s advantage is that both Zambia and Sudan will be wishing them well against Kenya so as to stagnate Harambee Stars on five points. This would give an advantage on the winner of the Zambia v Sudan clash, although Sudan
would need to register a more comprehensive victory.
Kenya coach Francis Kimanzi says the side that walloped Djibouti was being fine-tuned for the more important matches ahead.
Indeed the side will need to be in a very fine shape against a Burundi side that has exhibited a high degree of athletism in their three opening matches.
After beating Djibouti 4-0, they rallied from a goal down to equalize in stoppage time against Zambia and went on to beat Sudan 1-0. Their danger men are Claude Nahimana and Eric Gatoto who have established themselves as
dangerous in front of goal.
The entire team plays will a lot of determination and it will take a lot of effort from the Kenyans to break them.
Burundi’s only fear would be missing agile goalkeeper Vladmir Niyunkuru who injured himself in the dying minutes of the clash against Sudan. If he does not pass the medical test ahead of the Thursday match, then his side is
domed.
Kenya despite beating Djibouti 5-1 wasted too many chances and will need to learn to take all that come their way if their hope for better things in this tournament.
Francis Ouma scored a hat-trick but was unconvincing on the ball; Mike Baraza did little to justify his inclusion while Joseph Njuguna was like absent.
The team lacks fire in midfield with Austin Makacha, Osborne Monday and Jamal Mohamed all playing as if there is nothing at stake.
“It does not therefore, surprise many that of the five goals scored against Djibouti, two were from defenders Joseph Shikokoti and George Owino.
Finally, the Stars can not afford the laxity that saw Djibouti snatch back one goal through Daher Ahmed.
Monday hit the ball casually. It was intercepted by the Djibouti danger man who went on to round up Duncan Ochieng’ in the Kenya goal. He then fired past Shikokoti who had rushed back to cover for Ochieng’. It is this one
silly goal that could spell doom for the Kenyans.
Zambia, the best team of the tournament in Addis Ababa two years ago look favourites to advance against a tired-looking Sudanese side.
For the two sides, a comprehensive win is what would save any of them. Otherwise, the embarrassment of going home early looks eminent.
Group Standings:
Group A: Kampala
Team P W D L F A Pts
Uganda 2 1 1 0 4 1 4
Zanzibar 2 1 1 1 3 2 4
Tanzania 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Rwanda 2 1 0 1 3 4 3
Somalia 3 1 0 2 1 5 3
Group B: Jinja:
Team P W D L F A Pts
Burundi 3 2 1 0 6 1 7
Kenya 3 1 2 0 5 1 5
Zambia 3 1 2 0 4 1 5
Sudan 3 0 2 1 1 2 2
Djibouti 4 0 1 3 2 13 1



Uganda in semis but wants to keep fire burning
Zanzibar v Rwanda, Nakivubo 2pm
Tanzania v Uganda, Nakivubo 4pm

Hosts Uganda goes into their last Group stage of the Cecafa senior Challenge Cup assured of a semi final place, but needing a good classification when they take on Tanzania Friday.
The Uganda Cranes have amassed seven points with an 8-1 goals aggregate that look too massive to be attained by any of their challengers as the first phase of the two-week tournament comes to an end at the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium in Kampala.
Tanzania must win to be assured of a place in the semi finals as they are second on six points with a 4-2 goals aggregate.
Zanzibar and Rwanda meet in an earlier match with Rwanda needing a massive win, and hope that Tanzania loses, preferably heavily to Uganda. Zanzibar, on the other hand needs a win and hope that their half brothers, Tanzania
fall.
That is the mathematics that at hand on an afternoon that is expected to have all the ingredients of a tough tournament.
Despite the fact that they are already in the last four, unless a miracle happens, Uganda will still need to go into the match with all guns blazing,
if not to assure their fans that they are up to the challenges of this ten-team tournaments that is sponsored by pay TV channel GTV.
After an alleged tongue lashing from Scottish coach Robert Williamson, the Cranes looked powerful as they ran down Somalia 4-0 Wednesday. But Tanzania also registered a good result, 2-0 against Rwanda, at a time when they were
nearly being ruled out of the tournament.
The Kilimanjaro Stars from Tanzania will therefore be a bone to chew for the Ugandans who have been accused of lacking in tactics, going by their first three matches.
Tonny Mawejje seems more comfortable playing on the right of the forwards with Stephen Bengo on his left. He scored twice from this position. Upfront Williamson has Kasule Owen, Danny Wagaluka, Geoffrey Massa, Massa Simeon,
Ceaser Okutti and Vincent Kayizi to pick from.
The back is tight with Iceland –based Andrew Mwaisigwa the main pillar. But that back-four will need to keep the marauding Tanzanian forwards Mrisho Ngassa, Athumani Iddi and Danny Mrwanda under close check.
Tanzania coach Marcio Maximo from Brazil will be hoping that first choice goalkeeper Shaban Ndihile will be up for the match after a bout of malaria.
The Tanzanians had Deogratius Bonventure in goal but with no substitute of the bench. Kevin Yondan, introduced for the first time against Rwanda was great and together with captain Shadrack Msajigwa, Salum Sued and Henry Joseph will
have the responsibility of keeping the defence together.
Geoffrey Bonny, Juma Jabu and Haruna Moshi are the key midfielders to provide the pace that Maximo would need.
Rwanda has been good on the ball but they have not been able to translate this into victories.
They lost 0-4 to Uganda, beat Somalia 3-0 but lost 2-0 to Tanzania for a record that speaks badly about their defensive ability.
Goalkeeper Ndoli Jean Claude, injured against Uganda is still being missed as his understudy Patrick Rutayisire looked shaky against Tanzania.
The front is blunt, except for a few flashes of brilliance from Eric Gasana and Kamana Bokota. Jean Lomami is definitely over the hill.
The team’s strong point is the midfield where Elias Ntaganda, Gaseruka Aloua and Nshutuyamagara Ismael are instrumental.
Against Zanzibar, they face a side that plays with determination and is not ready for an early trip home. The Zanzibaris are carried on by experienced Nadir Haroub ‘Carnavaro’, the man they will greatly be relying on Friday.
Group Standings: (not including matches due Thursday)
Group A: Kampala
Team P W D L F A Pts
Uganda 3 2 1 0 8 1 7
Tanzania 3 2 0 1 4 2 6
Zanzibar 3 1 1 1 3 2 4
Rwanda 3 1 0 2 3 6 3
Somalia 4 1 0 3 1 9 3
Group B: Jinja:
Team P W D L F A Pts
Burundi 3 2 1 0 6 1 7
Kenya 3 1 2 0 5 1 5
Zambia 3 1 2 0 4 1 5
Sudan 3 0 2 1 1 2 2
Djibouti 4 0 1 3 2 13 1