Migi inspires Azam to Kagame Cup title

Sunday Final Gor Mahia 0-2 Azam FC 3rd place playoff KCCA 2-1 Al Khartoum Rwanda international Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza has inspired Azam FC to their first CECAFA Kagame Cup title following a comfortable 2-0 win over Gor Mahia in the final yesterday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mugiraneza joined the Tanzanian Premier League side less than three weeks ago from local giants APR FC where his contract had run out after nearly nine years at the club [102 appearances and 32 goals]. The Kagame Cup has been his first competition with his new club, making his debut in Azam’s 1-0 against Ugandan side KCCA in the first game of Group C—Migi has gone to start in all six matches en-route to the final, playing a key role in shielding the defence that did not concede a goal the whole tournament. Azam Football Club, who gained promotion into the Tanzanian Premier League for the first time ever in their short history in 2008–09, became the third Tanzanian club to win the competition, after Yanga (five) and Simba, who won it a record six times. Kenyan league champions Gor Mahia came into the final as slight favourites but Azam had other ideas, taking the lead after 16 minutes through Tanzania international striker John Bocco for his third goal of the tournament. Azam British coach Stuart Hall. (Net photo) Stuart Hall’s team were home and dusted when Ivorian forward Kipre Cheche netted a free-kick in the 65th minute—it was his fourth goal in six games in the competition. Gor Mahia, who have in their ranks Rwandan internationals Abouba Sibomana and Meddie Kagere as well as former Rayon Sports Burundian right-back, Karim Ndagijimana, tried but came short in their attempt to win a record-equaling sixth regional title. For Mugiraneza, this is his third CECAFA Kagame Cup title, following successes with APR in 2007 and 2010—and it’s also the second title in as many years for his teammate, Serges Pascal Wawa, who won it last year in Kigali with Sudanese giants El Merreikh, who defeated APR 1-0 in the final. Earlier in the day, KCCA went one place better from last year by taking bronze medal after overcoming APR’s quarter-final conquerors Al Khartoum 2-1 in the third-place playoff. As winners, Azam took home the top cash prize of US$30,000, first runners-up Gor Mahia US$20,000, while KCCA got US$10,000 for finishing third, courtesy of President Paul Kagame, who is the tournament’s chief sponsor since 2002. editorial@newtimes.co.rw