Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
23 May 2011
KAGERA and Mbeya regional soccer teams won through to the Kili Taifa Cup semi-finals on Monday after defeating the national Under-23 side and Ruvuma respectively.
Ten-man Kagera’s Lweru Eagles crawled into the last four beating the national youth team, Vijana Stars, 3-1 on post match penalty shootout, after a 2-2 draw in the regular time.
The Under-23 side, which was participating in the prestigious championship as guest team, went a goal down barely two minutes into the game, after Kagera’s Fikiri Omari buried the ball into the back of the net following a goal-mouth scramble.
Juma Abdul drew the national youth side level with a stunning 30 yards strike but Shamte Odoro scored in the stroke of half time beating on the ball, onrushing goalkeeper Salehe Ali to put Kagera back in front.
Jamhuri Kihwelo’s youngsters again pulled the game back into level terms after ten minutes. Kagera defender Laurent James pulled down Godfrey Wambura inside the area, leaving referee Israel Nkongo with no option but award the Under-23 a penalty.
Khamis Mcha stepped up and expertly dispatched it. Kagera were reduced to ten men in the 65th minute when James received a red card for a wicked challenge on Jamal Mnyate.
However, the results remained unchanged forcing the game into penalty shootouts to decide the winner and Kagera mastered the exercised to conclude Vijana Stars’ participation in the championship.
For the Under-23 side, the tournament meant to form part of their preparations for the final round of the 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers. The youngsters, who made it into this round of the Olympic Games at the expense of fancied Cameroon, face Nigeria next month in the next stage of the qualifiers.
In the early match, Mbeya stormed through to the semi-finals with a 3-2 home win over battling Ruvuma at the same venue. The victors broke the deadlock in the tie after just three minutes when towering Kagera Sugar forward Gaudence Mwaikimba scored with a powerful drive from just outside the box.
Juma Mpola doubled Mbeya’s advantage on 39 minutes. Steven Mazanda received a nice ball before playing a neat one-two with Said Mtupa to release the scorer inside the Ruvuma area.
Mbeya saw most of the ball during the opening half, however Ruvuma gave the impression they could fight back with a couple of chances too, but inept finishing always let them down. Mbeya’s Henry Mwalugala and Mwaikimba were cautioned for foul play against Ruvuma players in the first half.
Ruvuma returned for the restart a rejuvenated force and put Mbeya under sustained pressure and were soon rewarded when Ally Bilali found the back of the net after being set up by Kassim Kilungo.
In-form Mwaikimba restored Mbeya’s two goal cushion when he darted past Ruvuma defence before ramming home the third goal. Ruvuma refused to bow down and succeeded to get the second through Bilali’s spot kick in the closing stage, which made for an interesting finish, but Mbeya held on for their victory.
Juma Mpola won the man of the match award, for which he earned 100,000/- from the tournament’s sponsors, Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL).
AllAfrica – All the Time
Continued here:
Kagera Send U-23 Packing