Sunday
Play-off: 1pm
Zanzibar v Tanzania
Final: 4pm, SS3
Uganda v Rwanda
BY REUBEN OLITA
IN NAIROBI
EVEN after losing to title holders Uganda Cranes in the quarterfinal match of the Orange Senior Challenge Cup, Zanzibar Heroes head coach Hemed Morocco does not harbour any grudge for their painful exit.
“I have a lot of respect for Uganda whom I have tipped to retain the title. They have the best squad compared to any team in the competition. They deserve to be champions”, he revealed yesterday.
The coach said the Ugandans played with great experience and purpose with all departments clicking, thus his prediction that Rwanda cannot pose any threats in their title retention bid.
The coach attributed his loss to the Cranes, for the first time since 1987, to lack of experience that saw his dreams to win his second CEACAFA title dashed.
“We lacked experience and it cost us. Nobody expected much from us at the start of the tournament and we are happy with the achievement so far,” he said.
Zanzibar caused a major upset when they eliminated fancied Zambia’s Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the play-off match between compatriots Zanzibar and Tanzania that was scheduled for today will now be played on Sunday as a curtain raiser to the finals between the Uganda Cranes and Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars.
CECAFA Secretary- General, Nicholas Musonye said the local organizing committee had to reschedule the match due to unavoidable circumstances and called on fans to come to in large numbers to watch the thrilling match and cheer the teams as they battle for the US$30,000 top prize. The tournament is being held in Kenya for the first time.
