KCCA wins Mapinduzi Cup

By James Bakama 

Soccer 

KCCA 1 Simba 0 

Basketball 

Uganda 66 Zanzibar 52 

Handball 

Uganda 40 Zanzibar 20 

AS the Cranes shine in the Africa Nations Championship in South Africa, Ugandan teams are also in winning form elsewhere. 

Uganda’s CAF Champions League representatives KCCA yesterday beat Tanzanian giants Simba to win the Mapinduzi Cup. The victory came with a $10,000 (sh25m) winner’s prize. 

The victory completed a clean sweep for Ugandan teams in the invitational tournaments as they also triumphed in basketball, handball and netball. 

Herman Wasswa’s first half strike was enough to give George Nsimbe’s KCCA side victory in the annual competition that celebrates Zanzibar’s independence. 

“I told you we are winning it. We were always the best team here,” said an overjoyed Nsimbe. It was the former Cranes and KCC midfielder’s third title with the club as coach. He won Uganda’s Super League in 2007 and 2013. 

Uganda was represented in soccer by KCCA and URA. The tax collectors failed to make it an all Uganda final when they lost 2-0 to Simba at the penultimate stage. KCC beat another Tanzanian side Azam 3-2 in the semi-finals. KCCA and Simba drew goalless in their Group B fixture. 

KCCA’s win yesterday denied Simba their third title. 

On another front, Uganda’s handball side was also in superb form beating Tanzania 32-29 then Kenya 40-20 and Zanzibar 40-20 to emerge supreme in the event organised on a round robin format. 

But this victory came after some sacrifice that had the team only secure residential training after an offer from Uganda Prisons Commissioner General Johnson Byabashaija. 

UHF boss Sheila Agonzibwa then had to dig into her pockets to transport the team by road. “It’s not been easy. But it is good that the team has also impressed,” Aginzibwa said yesterday. The team returns this morning. 

Uganda’s national basketball side like the handball team, also wound up with three straight wins, the last one being against the hosts whom they beat 66-52.