Tanzania conquer Burundi on second day of regional games at Kasarani
Football
By
-GILBERT WANDERA
| Aug 09, 2013
By GILBERT WANDERA
Tanzania hit Burundi 2-0 on the second day of the East Africa Military Games at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, yesterday.
Ayubu Kitala scored first for the winners in the 73rd minute before Shila Makula added the second goal in the 89th minute to ensure Tanzania picked their first win and almost enhanced their chances of making it to the next round.
The first half of the Tanzania and Burundi tie was full of wasted chances by both sides.
Burundi showed the first intent to go ahead and nearly scored with the first kick off the ball after Pascal Hakizinana found himself inside the Tanzanian half but failed to beat Dihile Shabani in the goal.
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Tanzania almost scored in reply in the second minute but danger man Shija Makula could only get a corner from his efforts.
Dominant side
By the eighth minute, Burundi were clearly the more dominant side and Hakizinana watched as his effort went to waste after he made a wonderful cross, but there was no one to tap the ball home.
Burundi were rewarded with their first corner in the 13th minute after the Tanzanian goalkeeper came out to stop an advancing Hakizinana.
The pressure swung Tanzania’s way with dangerous forward Shija penetrating the opposing defence. But he was poor on execution and had to be content with a corner kick.
Hakizinana continued to terrorise the Tanzanian defence and in the 20th minute he forced Shija in goal to stretch wide and stop his goal-bound shot.
It appeared like a battle between two dangerous forwards, Hakizanana and Shija. In the 20th minute the latter forced a corner for his side but still there were no goals.
Slowed tempo
From then on, both teams appeared to have slowed the tempo, but it was still Tanzania that ended this half on a high when they won a fruitless corner at the stroke of half-time after Hussein Nyamandulu’s effort was spilled out.
The tournament continues tomorrow when defending champions Uganda take on Rwanda at the same venue. Kenyan representatives Ulinzi Stars will take on wounded Burundi tomorrow in their second match of the regional games.
The Kenyans will be keen to win their first match of the competition after being held to a draw by Uganda.
The match is expected to be exciting considering that Burundi, who lost 2-0 yesterday, will be looking to continue participating in the competition.