Players' brace for heavy rains during CECAFA U-18 as thousands of fans turn up at Bukhungu
Football
By
Mary Imenza and Benard Lusigi
| Nov 27, 2023
The CECAFA U18 Championship entered day two on Sunday at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County despite heavy rains being experienced in the region.
Group B which was the first match began at 12pm with the clash between Zanzibar and South Sudan.
Zanzibar clinched a narrow 1-0 victory courtesy of Moh'd Moh'd solitary goal.
Tanzania played against Uganda and emerged victorious with a 1-0 win against Uganda.
Shariff Wilson scored an early goal and proved to be the deciding factor in the match.
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Following a heavy downpour, a short break was taken then the tournament resumed.
The second-half downpour could not stop the hosts from giving their teams a warm welcome.
"Despite the bad state of the pitch, I'm proud of my players for giving me that perfect gift. It was a difficult pitch for both teams to play on, but it was important to get a positive result in our first match of the tournament," said a visibly excited coach Kondo Kkwayu.
Kenya is scheduled to face Rwanda at 12 noon on Tuesday, while Somalia will compete against Sudan at 3 PM in Kisumu.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba earlier in the week said his ministry was supporting graduates of Kenya's first -ever National Holiday Talent Camp hosted last August to progress to junior national teams.
"We want to vary the country to support this tournament and especially to fill the Jomo Kenyatta grounds, Maybole in Kisumu and the Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega to the rafters so that they can cheer Kenya's team, "said Namwamba.
The Bukhungu match was attended by FKF Vice-President Doris Petra and CECAFA CEO Auka Gecheo.
On Wednesday at Tanzania vs South Sudan will battle out at Bukhungu stadium from 12noon while at 3pm Zanzibar will face Uganda at Bukhungu stadium.
On Friday Kenya will clash out against Somalia at 12pm at Bukhungu stadium while Tanzania will play against Zanzibar at 3pm in the same pitch.