A HEAD-START: Ssenyonjo (left) and Juuko celebrate

BY ABDALLLAH MUBIRU
IN KIGALI

Police 2 Polisi 0
Today
URA v CDE 5pm
Yanga v APR 7pm

POLICE made a brilliant start to the defence of their regional club soccer title yesterday with goals by Peter Senyonjo and Dan Walusimbi.

Senyonjo struck first after a cross from right-back Simon Masaba shortly before interval at the Amahoro stadium.

The champions would have even won by a bigger margin if the forwards had utilised the numerous opportunities at their disposal.

The Kampala team’s win also put coach Sam Timbe on course for a rare hat-trick of titles.

Timbe led the side to victory last year after a similar feat with SC Villa in 2005.

The success against the Zanzibari policemen pushed the Ugandan side to second position in their group. Fancied St.George of Ethiopia top the group.

The CECAFA tournament that brings together champions of domestic leagues in the region is sponsored by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Uganda is fielding two teams, Police and URA.

r Ugandan Champions URA must win today if they are to stand a chance of advancing from the preliminaries.

The tax collectors squandered the chance to pick maximum points against Tanzania’s Yanga after taking a 2-0 lead on Monday. The game ended in a draw.

Coach Frank ‘Video’ Anyau’s decision to bench wide midfielders Peter Lwebuga and Ronald Ssesanga for Manco Kawesa and Sam Nadduli backfired.

Soon after the substitutions, Yanga’s full backs Shadrack Nsajigwa and Edwin Mkenya easily pierced through the URA defence, setting up Gaudence Mwaikima and Bernard Mwalala to level the game.

“We are still in the competition, but the result (against Yanga) is a lesson to us,” Anyau admitted.
Anyau said he would change the game approach, applying a 4-3-3 formation, with pint-sized David Kalungi reinforcing strike partners Fred Okello and David Kiwanuka.

* Vital’O have been fined $50 for arriving late for their match against CDE on Monday, while holders-Police FC were rescued from a possible fine by their opponents-Polisi Zanzibar after presenting match jerseys whose colours clashed. The Zanzibaris agreed to change their jerseys despite being the home team.