By Gilbert Wandera
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) won their opening match of the Kagame Cup tournament after stopping Al Hilal of Sudan 1-0 on Tuesday.
James Kasibante scored the all-important goal in the 40th minute to give URA their first three points of the competition in a match played in Kadugli City.
The Ugandan taxmen still managed to win their opening match even after travelling without head coach Paul Nkata and striker Frank Kalanda.
The two did not travel with the team after failing to process their passports on time but are expected to join the rest of the squad later this week.
URA were brought into the tournament to replace Kenyan champions Tusker who pulled out citing insecurity concerns. Tanzanian clubs Yanga, Simba and Falcon from Zanzibar also gave the tournament a miss citing the same reason.
Efforts by Simba and Yanga to come back to the competition after their government approved their participation hit a snag when Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) declined to allow them back.
There will be three matches today as the tournament continues. URA are back on the pitch at 3pm to take on Al Ahly, another Sudanese side.
The Ugandan side will be keen to get all three points as well and qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament.
In another match, Electricity from Ethiopia will take on Rayon Sports of Rwanda with both teams keen to have a good start in the competition.
Meanwhile, the 2013 Kagame Cup kicked off in Kadugli, South Kordofan, with pomp and colour with over 10 ministers and five governors present, allaying fears of insecurity and rebel upsurge.
Three ministers from the Central government in Khartoum and five others from North Darfur and South Kordofan graced the occasion at which traditional dancers and artistes staged shows to open the event.
Cecafa President Leodegar Tenga and Secretary Nicholas Musonye spent in Kadugli to monitor any eventuality.
