The Cecafa Tusker Cup 2012 finally came to an end with Uganda Cranes declared champions for a record 13th times after narrowly edging rivals Kenya 2-1 in an exciting game played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
At Kawowo Sports, we closely followed the tournament and select the crème de la crème of players in their respective positions that shone above the rest.
The selection is based on the players’ performance and contribution to their teams and personal observation by the writer plus the available statistics. Let’s get started;
GK: ALLY MWADINI (ZANZIBAR):
The Zanzibar Heroes custodian beats Uganda’s Hamza Muwonge to the slot just because he made more saves than Muwonge. Mwadini is one of the reasons Zanzibar finished third in the competition. Unlike Muwonge who had an imperious defence in front of him, Mwadini was at times the difference between his side and the opponents.
RB: SHOMARI KAPOMBE (TANZANIA):
The Kilimanjaro Stars right full back had a good tournament. Only Uganda’s Denis Iguma and Rwanda’s Michel Rusheshangoga come close. He was solid defensively and supported the attackers nicely with his marauding runs.
CB: JOACKINS ATUDO (KENYA):
He is pure class when it comes to defending. He has a fantastic tournament indeed. He rarely put a foot wrong, read the game well and his decision making was classic. He beats Uganda’s Henry Kalungi and Tanzania’s Kevin Yodan to the slot to partner Isaac Isinde.
CB: ISAAC ISINDE (UGANDA):
The St. George defender is one of the reasons the Cranes conceded just one goal en-route to winning the tournament. He made a good centre back pairing with Henry Kalungi, made clean tackles and dealt well with the aerial threat posed by strikers. He came out on top in contests with good strikers like John Bocco (Tanzania) and Mike Barasa (Kenya)
LB: GODFREY WALUSIMBI (UGANDA):
The Ugandan left full back didn’t have the best of the tournament by his standards but was the best option of all players in this position. His would be threat in Rwanda’s Mwemeri Ngirushuti suffered an injury after impressing in his team’s opening match against Malawi and was ruled out of the tournament.
MF: GEOFFREY ‘BABA’ KIZITO (UGANDA):
The Vietnam based midfielder was a revelation in the tournament. Apart from the final where he went missing for most of the game, he played like a hungry lion in all the matches. He scored three goals from midfield more than any midfielder in the tournament. He takes up his slot without any contest.
MF: HARUNA NIYONZIMA (RWANDA):
Unfortunately, his team bowed out at the quarter final stages but the Rwanda skipper showed what he is capable whenever he was on the pitch. His range of passing and vision was simply world class.
MF: HUMPHREY MIENO (KENYA):
He was simply the difference between Harambe Stars and the rest of the teams. He was calm and always composed whenever in possession. What he lacked in energy and work rate, he had in the brain. The Sofapaka midfielder initiated most of Kenya’s attacks and visionary long passes would make the legendary Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo smile. Always tidy in possession.
MF: MWINYI KAZIMOTO (TANZANIA):
The Kilimanjaro Stars’ midfielder gets a place in the team ahead of Uganda’s Moses Oloya and Malawi’s Joseph Kamwendo for his work rate and fine ball distribution. His Coach Kim Poulsen lavished praise on his number 15 but not for nothing.
FWD: JOHN RAPHAEL BOCCO (TANZANIA):
There is no striker in the tournament that has been more lethal than the Tanzanian. He scored five goals in six games and rarely missed an opportunity when availed to him. Bocco doesn’t do so many things on the pitch but simply knows how to score goals
FWD: ROBERT SSENTONGO (UGANDA):
The Ugandan striker makes it to the team of the tournament ahead of his team mate Brian Umony, Malawi’s Chuikepo Msowoya and Zanzibar’s Khamis Mcha Khamis. In four starts, he netted four goals though Anthony Kimani’s own goal was dubiously awarded to him. Besides the controversy, his work rate and conversion rate made him one of the tournament’s most feared strikers.
COACH: NASSOR SALUM (Zanzibar)
ASSISTANT COACH: James Nandwa (Kenya)
SYSTEM (4-1-3-2)
Ally Mwadini (GK)
Shomari Kapombe Joackins Atudo Isaac Isinde Godfrey Walusimbi
Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito
Haruna Niyonzima Humphrey Mieno Mwinyi Kazimoto
John Raphael Bocco Robert Ssentongo
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Hamza Muwonge (Uganda), Denis IGuma (Uganda), Henry Kalungi (Uganda), Mrisho Ngassa (Tanzania), Sulleyman Kassim Sulleyman (Zanzibar), Moses Oloya (Uganda), Khamis Mcha Khamis (Zanzibar), Selemani Ndikumana (Burundi) and Dereje Alemu Genet (Ethiopia)
KEY:
GK: Goal Keeper
RB: Right Back
LB: Left Back
CB: Centre Back
MF: Midfielder
FWD: Forward
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Humphrey Mieno (Kenya)
Golden gloves – Ally Mwadini (Zanzibar)
Best defender – Isaac Isinde (Uganda)
Top Scorer – Robert Ssentongo was declared the top scorer but statistics indicate that Tanzania’s Mrisho Ngassa and John Raphael Bocco netted five goals yet he scored four.
