Cecafa Kicks off With Uganda, Burundi Register Wins

Sports — 26 November 2011

Burundi turned Somalia to a punching bag with a 4-1 demolition as Uganda Cranes were made to struggle before edging out stubborn Zanzibar 2-1 in the opening matches of the Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup staged at the National Stadium on Friday.

Dan Wagaluka gave Uganda the match opener in the 41st minute after connection a right flank cross to beat Zanzibaris Ali Mwadini in goal. Nevertheless, Zanzibar cheered by Tanzania brothers levelled the score a minute later through Ali Badru Ali effort.Mike Serumaga finished off Uganda’s defence splitting attack, making it 2-1 in the 77th minute

Kenya’s Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, a passionate fan of football at any level, was a surprise attendant on the opening day, arriving to watch the entire Uganda v Zanzibar encounter.

The Kenyan PM was welcomed into the stadium by Cecafa President, Leodegar Tenga and the organisation’s secretary general, Nicholas Musonye of Kenya.

On Thursday, the Cecafa Congress took place in Dar es Salaam and Tenga was elected to lead the 11-member Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations, for another four-year term. Musonye was endorsed to continue in the un-elective Chief Executive Officer position for the same period.

Chairman and general secretaries of the Cecafa membership attended the congress including from the newly elected Football Kenya Federation. The Kenyan delegation included their chairman, Sam Nyamweya, vice-chairman Sammy Sholei and acting FKF secretary general Lordvick Aduda.