East Africa: Uganda Beats Kenya

Namboole — Geoffrey Kizito’s header past a beaten Duncan Ochieng secured Uganda victory over Kenya in an enthralling Cecafa Tusker Cup start at Namboole Stadium on Saturday.

In a game that evoked memories of last year’s encounter, both sides started off wary of the other’s threat. Caution was the language spoken by the mind and feet of a much changed Kenyan side against Uganda’s men.

When it almost had seemed the game would end even, with plenty of goal scoring opportunities but shots flying way off over either goal stoppers, Uganda Cranes launched a massive attack on their visitors.

Deep in the second half, a foul on Denis Iguma along the right front flank resulted into a freekick by the tackle victim, meeting an unmarked Kizito who headed it past a static Ochieng and into the net.

The first and only goal of the game ensured that Cranes bagged a much needed win over their neighbours and seasoned arch rivals, if history was to remain intact.

Uganda has won the Cecafa Cup a record 12 times and the Kenya’s title statistic only brings them second in the history books of the regional tournament.

That is the kind of reputation that the home team came riding on the back of against the Harambee Stars after an earlier meet of the other Group of Death teams, Ethiopia and South Sudan in which Ethiopia won 1-0.

On a warm Saturday evening, the home side kicked off to a calm start of a reminiscent encounter with the Harambee Stars at a fairly empty Namboole Stadium. Only that this time, the Kenyan side featured unfamiliar faces under the watchful eye of Coach James Nandwa.

Despite the lackluster fashion in which the game started, the visitors checked Ugandan stopper Abbey Dhaira early with a lobbed ball but the gangly Iceland-based keeper comfortably embraced it.

Both sides looked determined to maintain a cautious approach, with players on either side weighing their opponents. But the Harambee Stars always tried to make the first move along the right front wing, with Juma Abdallah powering a spirited run but was stopped short in his tracks.

As if awakened by the early breakthroughs, the Cranes responded effectively, only that Moses Oloya’s one-two with Brian Umony was interrupted by a Kenyan opponent.