Yanga beat Azam in an all-Tanzanian final

By Ernest Ndunda in Dar-es-Salaam

Young African (Yanga) of Tanzania retained the Cecafa Kagame Club Championships title after beating hard fighting Azam 2-0.

The champions kept the glittering trophy in their cabinet for the second year running after in an all Tanzanian final affair last evening at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

The win saw Yanga walk away with U$ 60,000 (Sh5 million) top prize money, while Azam pocketed Sh3.3 million. Third and fourth placed Vita of DRC Congo and APR of Rwanda went home with Sh2.4 million and Sh840,000 respectively.

Enjoying massive support from their fans who included those of Simba, Azam had the lion’s share in the opening minutes and started terrorising their opponents from the first whistle.

Dangerman John Bocco of Azam missed the target in the second minute of the match officiated by Burundian referee Thiery Nkurunziza after he volleyed over his close range shot.

Yanga were on the receiving, especially in the opening 15 minutes as their blind passes were easily intercepted, forcing their coach Tom Saintfiet to stand at the touch-line to give instructions on realising  his boys were not playing according to his instructions.

Yanga’s moment of scoring came in the 15th minute when Rashid Gombo passed the ball to Said Bahanuzi whose well taken shot was parried back into play by hawk-eyed goalkepeer Deogratius Munishi.

However, it was in  the 44th minute when Hamis Kiiza slammed home Yanga’s opener following defensive  mistake to beat  Azam custodian Munishi well beaten.

The goal set fire on the 60,000 capacity stadium as the fans celebrated.

In the second half, both teams kept on mounting more pressure to their opponents. Azam had their opportunity to equalise in the 57th minute when Ramathan Chombo was left with goalkeeper David Luhende to beat but his shot went off target.

The non-nonsense Burundian referee did not hesitate to flash a yellow card to Yanga goalkeeper Luhende for time wasting time with nine minutes to go. 

However with two seconds to injury time, Said Bahanuzi broke from the centre to hammer the last goal of the tournament to give Yanga their second goal.

Good tidings

Meanwhile, Vita Club of Democratic Republic of Congo beat APR of Rwanda 2-1 in the third place playoffs to lift bronze in this year’s Cecafa Kagame Club Championships.

Vita started the match aggressively and it was in the eighth minute when Etekiama Taddy hit the side netting  to signal good things to come.

APR’s scoring chance came in the 15th minute but Dan Wagaluka’s shot was parried away by goaleeper Lukong Nelson for an abortive corner as both teams engaged each other to serious football display in search of goals.

In the 18th minute, Vita prayers were answered through Magola Mapanda who blasted it into the net, beating second choice goalkeeper Ndayishimiye Jean in the match officiated by Kenya’s whistler Anthony Ogwayo.

Vita went two-up in the 66th minute through Mutombo Kazadi before Mugiraneza Jean pulled one back for APR in the 89th minute.