BRAVE GOR FALL: Tanzania's Azam prolongs K'Ogalo's 30-year wait for Cecafa Club honours

Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia's good run finally came to an end after they were beaten 2-0 by Azam of Tanzania in the final of 2015 Cecafa Kagame Club championships at the National Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

It was the first ever win for Azam since the inception of the tournament 41 years ago.

Gor Mahia was under intense pressure in the opening five minutes with Azam players dominating the proceedings.

The K'Ogalo side calmed down the game with Michael Olunga and Medie Kagere making some dangerous inroads to their opponents.

Azam coached by British tactician Stewart Hall would have been one up in the 15th minute, but Kipre Tcheche could not arrive on time to tap in Ammy Ali's pass.

However, Tcheche paid back a minute later when he sprinted with the ball to dislodge defender Sibomana Abouba to neatly pass to Captain John Bocco to score.

Innocent Wafula wasted an open chance in the 29th minute when he blasted his shot wide.

Azam opted for wing play stretching open Gor Mahia's backline.

On the stroke of half time, Azam's goalkeeper Manila Salum had to dive at full stretch to punch out Wafula's goal bound shot.

Gor Mahia opened the second half with intent and tempo of getting an equalizer.

Tcheche was more lethal following a defensive mix-up in the 51st minute and saw his shot hit the post with Oluoch well beaten.

Coach Hall re-energised his team by bringing on Erasto Nyoni, Damayo Frank and Didier Kavumbagu for Farid Mussa, Ammy Ali and Tcheche.

Rwanda's referee Louis Hakizimana cautioned Khalid Aucho for a dangerous foul on Tcheche who dusted himself up to fire home the resultant free kick into the far corner of the posts in the 66th minute and silence Gor Mahia's charged fans.

Coach Frank Nuttal benched Erick Ochieng, Wafula and Kagere for Ali Abondo, Enock Agwanda and George 'Blackberry' Odhiambo, but could not alter the course of the match.

"We had some lapses as the players lacked concentration. We had few scoring chances but we did not utilise them," said Nuttal.

"We have achieved a lot as our aim was to make it to the knockout stage," added the coach.

Coach Hall said he had the energy to play for the 90 minutes. "Our defenders were at the peak and kept Gor Mahia's strikers at bay throughout the match," said Hall.

In an earlier match at the same venue' Kampala City Council Authority grabbed bronze after they hit Sudan's Khartoum National Club 2-1.

Michael Birungi put the Ugandans ahead in the seventh minute before Mutyaba Muzamiru added the second two minutes later. Atif Khalid scored Khartoum's consolation goal in the 21st minute.

Share this story
UEFA Champions League: Real stands in way of Dortmund fairytale in tonight's final
German side faces acid test in Champions League final at Wembley.
Kenya feeling marathon hero Kiptum's loss as Olympics near
Athletics Kenya president Tuwei says everyone was looking forward to him breaking another record.
Wounded KCB chase Enterprise Cup final
The bankers have not won the title since 2017.
Kabras Sugar ready to face Nondescripts in Enterprise Cup semis
The Sugar men are hunting for a straight fourth Enterprise Cup title.
All-women teams take on Rhino Charge challenge
All is set for this year's 35th Rhino Charge competition as 54 participating cars undergo scrutineering in the final preparations for competition in the scenic landscape of Torosei in Kajiado West.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS