Amavubi’s prayers go unanswered

Tanzania get contentious penalty to join Uganda in semis Results Rwanda 3 Zanzibar 0 Uganda 2 Tanzania 1 KAMPALA - After beating Zanzibar 3-0 in the earlier game, Rwanda’s hopes of advancing to the semi-finals of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup rested on bitter rivals Uganda to beat Tanzania in the second game. However that wasn’t to be as a controversial 47th minute penalty conversion by Salum Sued gave Tanzania a much needed goal in their 2-1 loss to Uganda last evening. This denied Rwanda chance to qualify for the last four of this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup. Uganda and Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars therefore joined Burundi and Kenya in the semi-finals to be played on Sunday. Rwanda’s Amavubi had managed to beat Zanzibar 3-0 in an early game at Nakivubo stadium, and only prayed that Tanzania goes down 2-0, but the gods refused to smile on Rwanda. Jean Lomami, Pierre Hakiri and Jean Bosco Gasana netted for Rwanda in the first half to give the 1999 champions some hope to make it to the last four. But the second game which had bearing for Rwanda started on a good note for the home team that took a first half 2-0 lead with goals from Bryan Omony and Stephen Bengo. On resumption Kenyan referee Alfred Ndinya, who had one of his worst games in the tournament in controversial circumstance pointed to the spot for a penalty against Uganda in the 47th minute after Ugandan skipper shielded a Tanzanian player in the box. Ugandan players surrounded the referee in disbelief. Sued stepped forward and made no mistake slotting the ball past Ugandan goalkeeper Abbey Daira. The Tanzanians kept it tight and physical with many bad tackles which resulted to a send-off with four minutes to full time. Kelvin Nyondana was sent-off for elbowing a Ugandan player. “It is good we qualified because my boys worked hard to score a goal,” said Tanzania’s tactician Marcio Maximo. Uganda’s Scottish coach Bobby Williamson said it was good they made it to the semi-finals, but added that facing Burundi in the semi-finals will be no easy task. Rwanda’s coach Tucak Branko said although his young team failed to qualify for the semi-finals, he was happy that they managed to win two games and lose two. “The young players have gained some exposure which is good for us as we also prepare for the 2010 World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifiers. Group A P W D L F A PtsUganda 4 3 1 0 10 1 10Tanzania 4 2 0 2 5 4 6Rwanda 4 2 0 2 6 6 6Zanzibar 4 1 1 2 3 5 4Somalia 4 1 0 3 1 9 3 Ends

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Amavubi’s prayers go unanswered