Copa Coca Cola: Giants qualify for knockouts

Defending champions Kibuli SS, former champions St. Mary.'s Kitende  and Jinja SS were the first to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Copa Coca Cola Post Primary Football Championships in Masaka following games played on Sunday.

Kibuli who were recently held to a 1-1 draw by little known Bunyoro representatives, Panyandoli beat Kigezi High with whom they were tied on points, 3-0 to ensure they qualify as Group B leaders.

Julius Poloto grabbed a second half hat-trick to send his tally to six goals to beat their hard fighting opponents to the group's top spot at the St. Jude SS ground.

After a goalless first half, Poloto tapped in a Moses Aliro cross before he scored others from a set piece and latching on a back pass that the goalkeeper could not get to faster.

St.Mary's Kitende were also 4-0 winners over Gombe SS at Kitovu's Sports Arena with Abdu Karim Watambala, Brian Kalumba and a double from Frank Tumwesigye 'Zaga' ensuring maximum points for Kitende who are chasing a nineth championships.

Earlier, Blessed Sacrament Kimaanya had also beaten Laibi College 4-0 at the recreation ground with Farid Rashid scoring twice and Hamza Mulambuzi and William Seguya getting the other goals at the recreation ground.

Laibi coach Dickson Lumumba blamed his team's loss to playing in an unfamiliar weather.

"We are not used to this kind of environment (rain) but we also have many injuries on the team, but we have hopes of qualifying for the knock out stage." Lumumba said.

In other games played on Sunday, Buddo SS beat UMHS Rubaga 3-1, Namagabi beat Bright Light 1-0, Amus College beat Kamwenge 4-1 while Ryakasinga, Caltec Academy and Soroti Municipality registered similar 5-0 wins over Kijomoro, Sebei College and Kibale SS respectively.

Meanwhile Nkoma SS and Kagadi where disqualified from the tournament after they used ineligible players. Nkoma fielded Joel Ochwo who was found to have played for St.Mary Mbale last year as an S.6 student but featured for Nkoma this year registered as an S.4 candidate.

They were consequently banned from the tournament for 3 years.