Kagame Cup hopes shattered

Cecafa/Kagame Cup tournament Semi-finals, Yesterday Azam 2-1 AS VitaAPR 0-1 YangaFinals/Third-place play-off SaturdayAPR vs. AS VitaAzam vs. YangaAPR FC’s hopes of winning their fourth Cecafa/Kagame Cup title were demolished after losing their decisive semi final match against defending champions Yanga FC of Tanzania yesterday in Dar es Salaam.Ugandan-born striker Diego Hamis Kiza broke the deadlock on 100th minute of extra time when he scored a well-taken set-piece from former APR midfielder Haruna Niyonzima.Kiiza scored the lone goal of the game when defenders Donatien Tuyizere and Mbuyu Twite were left arguing with Said Bahanuz who had claimed to have been fouled on the left back as play continued.Both teams had played to an interesting performance in normal time. Failure to convert clear cut chances in both halves from Lionnel St. Preux, Olivier Karekezi, Dan Wagaluka, Jean Claude Iranzi and Jean Baptista Mugiraneza cost the military side.Yanga had a poor first half performance as APR dominated the proceedings but returned back in the second half to take the game into their control. The game would have ended earlier had Jean Claude Ndoli failed to make a superb save of Bahanuz strike who got a clear opportunity to shoot past Mbuyu on 60th minute.APR suffered a major blow in the striking force when Lionnel was substituted with a knock on his hip forcing coach Ernie Brandts to bring on youngster Barnabe Mubumbyi who never impressed.Hegman Ngoma also substituted ineffective Dan Wagaluka in the midfield but Haruna’s industrious work rate outpaced his opponents to help Yanga stamp its supremacy for a second time.Both sides had met in the group stage and the Tanzanian champions emerged the winner (2-0).The national champions bagged the title three times at home during the 2004, 2007 and 2010 editions.Yanga’s victory ensured that this year’s Kagame Cup title will for the second-year running stay in Tanzania since they are facing local rivals Azam FC in the finals on Saturday.John Bocco and Mrisho Ngassa helped Azam book a place in the finals for the first time in the history of the club championship after overcoming AS Vita of DR Congo in a 2-1 thrilling match.Frederic Ogwanyi had put Vita ahead on 35th minute before a stunning header from Bocco on 68th and a brilliant strike from Ngassa on 89th minute ensured their way into the finals.APR will now battle AS Vita in a play-off contest on Saturday in-order to restore the nations’ pride and pocket $10,000 cash prize.The winner between Yanga and Azam will take US$30,000 and Kagame Cup title while the runners-up will take home US $20,000, all courtesy of President Paul Kagame.

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Kagame Cup hopes shattered