NGORONGORO HEROES SHARE SPOILS WITH KENYA IN CECAFA U-20 DUEL

By Our Correspondent, Jinja UGANDA

The Kenya National Under-20 Rising Stars have settled for a two-all draw with Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Heroes in their second Cecafa Group B tournament match played at the Fufa Technical area in Jinja Uganda early today.

Kenya beat Zanzibar 5-0 in the opening match last weekend but surrendered their advantage twice to share spoils with Tanzania who thrashed Ethiopia 4-0 in their opener.

Two traditional arch-rivals Kenya and Tanzania faced off in the early kick off at 1:30 PM.

Prior to the match, Kenya's coach Stanley Okumbi made two changes in his squad bringing in Nzoia Sugar centre half Brain Wepo and AFC Leopards striker Austin Odhiambo to replace Alvin Ochieng and John Njuguna respectively.

Odhiambo justified his inclusion in the team with the opener in the 28th minute, dribbling past his marker to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.

Odhiambo doubled his tally in the tournament as he was on target in the opener.

Ngorongoro Heroes leveled minutes to the breather from an Andrew Simchimba's well-struck free-kick but Kariobangi Sharks forward Patrick Otieno regained the lead eight minutes after the restart to open his goal account with the team.

Abdul Suleiman restored parity in the 56th minute.  Kenya will play Ethiopia in the final group stage match while Tanzania will be up against Zanzibar.

The result means Kenya and Tanzania are level on points (4) but the former have a better goal difference.

The second game on the day witnessed Zanzibar win 2-1 over Ethiopia.

Zanzibar required a stoppage time goal from midfielder Hassan Abubakar Said to edge past Ethiopia.

Sadaam Makame Mohamed put Zanzibar ahead in the first half but Hajiso Abebayehu scored for Ethiopia midway through the second half to have a tense closing moment.

Deep in added time, Said got the match winner and help Zanzibar register their first win.

Group B final games will be played on Thursday with Tanzania playing neighbours Zanzibar while Kenya will face Ethiopia.

Kenya Starting XI: Brian Bwire Okoth(GK), Austin Otieno Odhiambo, Boniface Mwadime Mwangeni, John Otieno Onyango, Thomas Teka Omenda, Nyantini Joshua Otieno, Fidel Origa Otieno, Musa Masika Wanyama, Patrick Otieno ,Wambutsi Brian Wepo, Sydney Lokale

Tanzania (Ngorongoro Heroes) Starting XI: Ally Salim Katoro, Israel Patrick Mwenda, Gastapha Saimon Rukomba, Dickson Nickson Job(c), Oscar Geoffrey Masai, Ally Hussein Msengi, Tepsi Evance Theonassy, Novatus Disnas Miroshi, Andrew Albert Simchimba, John Kelvin Pius, Abdul Hamis Suleiman - Africa