Heroes gun down Amavubi

ZANZIBAR Heroes kicked off the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup campaign strongly after gunning down Rwanda’s ‘Amavubi’ 3-1 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos yesterday.

Midfielder Mudathir Yahya put Heroes ahead in the first half but Muhadjiri Hakizmana pulled level immediately after the restart. Issa Juma restored Heroes lead before Kassim Khamis sealed the victory for Hemed Morocco’s charges.

The match was largely balanced in the early minutes as both teams strived to take charge of the game. As the clock ticked, Rwanda slowly took charge of the game pinning Zanzibar in their own half as they went all out in search of the opening goal with Nshuti Innocent, Muhadjiri Hakizimana and Maxime Sekamana leading onslaught.

However, Zanzibar Heroes went into the match seen as underdogs but they were well composed from the onset with midfielder, Kassim Seleman Selembe and Yahya linking up well to frustrate the opponents. Heroes grew in confidence as the game surged and they shocked their opponents after taking the lead in the 34th minute, when Yahya powered home a well floated ball from left wing back Haji Mwinyi.

The Singida United midfielder showed some class, lurking in the area like false nine and he timely arrived Mwinyi’s perfect weighed in cross. Amavubi goalkeeper Yves Kimenyi effort to save his side proved futile. Two minutes after the restart, Amavubi’s pulled level through Hakizmana, who scored from close range after a good passage of play.

Zanzibar Heroes regained the lead in the 53rd minute, when Issa Juma calmly picked the top corner from inside the penalty area, to beat the keeper. He finished off from a neat play by the Islanders. There was still time for Kassim Khamis to seal the win for Zanzibar Heroes, three minutes before the final whistle.

After a swift counter attack, Khamis raced clear down the right side, beat his marker before firing a smart low shot past Amavubi’s keeper. This is the second consecutive loss for Rwanda after going down 0-2 to Kenya’s Harambee Stars in the opening game and are now starring at elimination of the tournament with two games in hand against Tanzania Mainland, Kilimanjaro Stars and Libya.

Meanwhile, Burundi held the record CECAFA holders Uganda Cranes to a goalless draw in a Group B encounter at Bhukungu Stadium, Kakamega on Monday afternoon. The Cranes were the better side in the opening ten minutes of the game with two early corners ripped off the pressure from Milton Karisa and Derrick Nsibambi.

Burundi slowly clawed back to the game with Simba’s forward Laudit Mavugo and Bloemfontein Celtics striker Abdoul Fiston piling pressure to Uganda’s backline of Skipper Bernard Muwanga and Timothy Dennis Awany. Muzamiru Mutyaba forced a save from goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana with an effort 30 yards as the first half neared the climax.

Ten minutes into the second half, Uganda Cranes technical team headed by Moses Basena introduced Nelson Senkatuka for Tadeo Lwanga. Three minutes later, Hood Kaweesa came on for Allan Kateregga. The changes added instant impact upfront for Uganda Cranes as Kaweesa, Senkatuka and Nsibambi offered options for Uganda in the quest for the much needed break through goal.

Sixty six minutes into the game, Paul Mucureezi replaced Karisa. Fiston shot narrowly wide as Burundi reacted off a quick counter attack with less than 20 minutes left on the clock. Defender Nico Wakiro Wadada saved Uganda from conceding with a goal-line clearance two minutes to full time.


Substitute Senkatuka had a chance to shoot from an acute angle off Isaac Muleme’s long diagonal ball.