Uganda chase tenth title, as Kenya out to prove a point

Today

Play-off

Tanzania v  Burundi

Final
Uganda   v  Kenya

KAMPALA - Uganda Cranes will be chasing a tenth Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup trophy this evening at Namboole stadium when they face Kenya in the finals of the 34th edition of the regional tournament.

As Uganda try to make use of their home advantage, Kenya will be out to try to prove a point that they are no pushovers and merit being in final.

In 1982 Kenya’s Harambee Stars beat Uganda in penalty shoot-outs in the finals played in Kampala, while the Cranes defeated Kenya 3-1 in their last meeting in the regional showpiece in a third and fourth play-off tie in 1984.

However, today’s final is expected to be a tough context bearing in mind that the two are the only teams that have not lost a game in the event.

While the hosts have shown a lot of fire power up-front scoring 15 goals and letting in one, the well built Kenyans have netted eight and let-in two.

"We have come from very far and it’s the time to wrap-it up with winning the final,” Uganda’s Scottish coach Bobby Williamson told Times Sport yesterday.

Uganda’s 2008 football of the year Bryan Omwony and Tony Mawejje who both have four goals in the tournament will lead the home team’s assault for goals.

But the Kenya’s who beat giants Zambia in their group and upstaged Tanzania in the semi-finals have vowed to recapture the trophy they last won in 2002.

"We are hungry to win this title although facing Uganda will be a tough hurdle,” said Kenya’s Coach Francis Kimanzi.

Kenya’s Francis Ouma with three goals to his credit in the tournament, Mike Baraza and Kelvin Ochieng are expected to get starting roles in the attack.

However, the defense of Joseph Shikokoti, Edgar Ochieng and George Owino must stand firm to shut-out a rampant Cranes attacking department.

In first game, a play-off tie to determine who smiles home with US$10,000, a depleted Tanzania side with two players serving read-card suspensions will be all out to try and stop a Burundi team that started so strongly, but showed some sluggishness in the later stages.

US$30,000 awaits the winning team, while the runner-up takes US$20,000, courtesy of the sponsors GTV.

Ends