Azam Vs Yanga 4.00pm (Final)
As Vita Vs APR (3rd place play off)
National Stadium, Dar es Salam – Live on SS9 & 9 East
All is set for the Cecafa Kagame finals this afternoon at the 60,000 capacity National stadium Dar es Salam as two home sides battle for the regional championships. Defending champions Yanga FC take on money bags Azam FC in what is expected to be a fiercely contested finals. The last time the two sides met in the Mainland Premier League in March, Yanga lost to Azam 3-1 in a match that saw four Yanga players banned for four games for roughing up centre referee Mujuni for what they claimed was biased officiation against their sides. The banned players were defenders Stephano Mwasika, Nadir Haroub, midfielder Seme Omega and striker Jerryson Tegete. The ban was later lifted but the bad blood had already developed between the two sides.
Yanga eliminated Rwanda’s APR FC in the semi-finals courtesy of Hamis Kiiza’s extra time strike while Azam came from a goal down to beat guests As Vita 2-1 with goals coming from John Bocco and Mrisho Ngasa. Yanga FC Coach Tom Saintfiet will miss the services of suspended Geoffrey Taita and the likes of Abdul Juma and Nizar Khalifan (injured) but still banks his hopes on the lethal forward line of Ugandan international Hamis Kiiza and Said Bahanuzi to sink Azam. The duo has scored nine goals between them in the tournament so far.
The champions must however be wary of Azam’s fox in the box John Bocco who has so far scored four goals. Stewart Hall’s side also boasts of an organised rear guard manned by Kenyan international Ibrahim Shikanda and Uganda’s Joseph Owino. The duo has been as hard as a rock in the competition a reason why Azam has conceded only two goals. Pacy and tricky winger Mrisho Ngasa and Ivorian import Kipre Tchetche must also be at their best if Azam is to lift the title. Yanga is in search of winning back to back Cecafa titles while Azam, a side formed five years back aims at lifting it for the first time.
Before this cracker though, APR FC and Congo’s As Vita will tussle it out in a third place play off match. Leading scorer Taddy Etikiama is expected to hunt for goals for the guest team while Olivier Karekezi, Selemani Ndikumana and Leonel St. Preus will be vital for the Rwandan champions. The winner is expected to bag $ 30,000, runners up $ 20,000 and $ 10,000 for the third placed team.
