By Ernest Ndunda in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
East and Central Africa Football Associations, Cecafa’s Kagame Club Cup Championships kicks off this afternoon in Dar-es-Salaam.
The two-week championship, which has brought together 11 clubs, will be at the Tanzania’s National Stadium and the Azam Complex in Chimazi.
All preparations have been finalised, according to Cecafa’s Secretary General, Nicholas Musonye.
Kenya’s representatives Tusker FC are expected in Dar-es-Salaam today ready for the battle.
There will be two matches this afternoon with the match between Rwanda’s APR and newcomers El Salam Wau of the newly-born African country, South Sudan, officially opening the tournament at 2pm.
Making inroads
The South Sudan team are excited as they prepare to meet the member club champions.
El Salaam Wau are optimistic of making inroads in the tournament and coach Sebit Bol Chol said he would not take things for granted.
The police-owned team are from Bahar al Gazar Province and train at the 15,000 capacity stadium in Wau city.
The team are grouped in one of the toughest groups together with the title holders Yanga, APR and Atletico.
The second match, which is expected to be full of fireworks, pits the defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) and Atletico of Burundi at 4pm.
However, Yanga, under the tutelage of Tom Saintfiet, will do without their skipper Shadrack Nsajigwa who was not among the 20 players named in the final list.
Saintfiet also dropped youthful players Simon Msuva, Omega Seme and Frank Domayo as the trio are busy with the national Under-20, Ngorongoro Heroes gearing up for their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.
Friendship cup
At the same time, the match pitting Simba of Tanzania and Uganda’s URA has been brought forward to tomorrow and not Monday as was in the initial plans.
The match will be at the National Stadium starting at 4pm and the hosts start as favourites after they successfully won the eight-man tournament on Thursday evening involving teams from Zanzibar and Tanzania.
The tournament dubbed “Friendship Cup” saw Simba beat Azam 3-1 to lift the trophy.
Meanwhile, Yanga after dropping their captain, have named their final squad of 20 players for the two-week tournament.
The squad has Yaw Berko, All Mustapha, Kelvin Yondani, Nadir Haroub, Juma Abdul, Godfrey Taita, Oscar Joshua and Ladslaus Mbogo. Others are Stephano Mwasika, Athuman Idd, Rashidi Gumbo, Juma Seif, Haruna Niyonzima, Nazar Khalfan, Idrisa Rashid, Hamis Kiiza, Said Bahanuzi, Jeryson Tegete and Shamte Ally.
