CECAFA KAGAME ROUND UP: Big Guns Yanga join the small boys going back home to Mummy

by
Collins Okinyo
July 30, 2015

By Fredrick Nadulli,

The Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Association – Cecafa – enters the business end of things with Tanzania big shots and pre-tournament favourites Yanga being unceremoniously chucked overboard by emerging force and money bags Azam.

As expected, Kenya league champions Gor Mahia fulfilled the bookmaker’s script, and so too did KCCA from Uganda. Another emerging regional giant Khartoum National completes the semi-final slots, making it convicingly at the expense of poor APR, a rather lethargic bunch this term.

MINNOWS CONFIRMED FLIGHTS

KMKM of Zanzibar, Al Ahly Shendi of Sudan and Somalia’s Heegan all put up spirited fights in trying to fight their way from the group stages, but the big boys were always going to stifle them and check their progress. Malakia from South Sudan won many hearts with their gritty resilience and tough resolve, ingredients that left coach Ramzi Sebit purring with delight amid an unlucky loss to the seasoned Ugandans.

They joined the rest in early flights home, promising to be back soon enough.Adama City, playing in the tournament by virtue of St. George’s refusal to represent Ethiopia, were a big disappointment, losing all three group matches and shipping in eight goals for only one scored.

Djibouti Telecom and Lydia Ludic of Burundi were not expected to offer any tough resistance, and subsequently sank without a trace. However the side from Djibouti produced some of the tourney’s finest players so far, goalkeeper Jeff Nzokira and midfielder Freddy Eninga.

LOCAL DERBY

While Khartoum National, handled by former Ghana World Cup coach Kwesi Appiah brushed aside Rwanda army team APR, Gor Mahia endured some nervy moments in seeing off Malakia, a team they were widely expected to roll over. In the end, the slim scoreline trashed that notion, even though the Kenyans would have put the tie to bed early on with glaring opportunities. Their qualification was never in doubt.

KCCA saw off Al Ahly Shendi, but it was the fourth and final quarter final fixture that brought Dar Es Salaam to a virtual stand still. Yanga against Azam is a massive fixture any day, but the stakes in this one were too big to be left to chance. Yanga have the fans and hype, Azam have the money. It was a game of breath-taking quality that announced the real intensity of this Cecafa edition.

Tackles were traded, tempers boiled to unprecedented levels, every blade of grass was covered, but alas, no goal was scored.

Dreaded penalties had to decide it.Azam triumphed 5 – 4 to break many hearts.

The semis are slated for Friday.

Semi Final Pairings:

Khartoum National v Gor Mahia

KCCA v Azam

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Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com