Today

Cecafa/Kagame Cup final

URA    v  Turker (3pm)

Third place play-off

Simba  v  Yanga (1pm)

DAR ES SALAAM - The East and Central Africa Club Championship, Kagame Cup, concludes this afternoon in Dar es Salaam when Uganda’s URA play Kenya’s Tusker in the final match.

The final is scheduled for the newly-built 60,000-seater ultra-modern stadium National Stadium. Tusker knocked out Tanzania’s Young Africans (Yanga) while URA eliminated Simba Sports Club.

Simba, a record six-time winners, were eliminated 1-0 by last year’s 2007 finalists Uganda Revenue Authority thanks to a second half of extra time, Eric Obua goal.

While on Friday, Simon Mburu struck in the 53rd minute to send the four time champions Tusker through to the final of the regional tournament.

The regional championship is sponsored by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and Castle Lager. The Ugandan champions URA lost last year’s final in Rwanda to hosts’ team APR, who this year were bundled out of the event in the quarter-finals by Simba.

URA have looked the more convincing side throughout the tournament and have overcome superior opponents overall, remaining unbeaten in the process.

Their win over Simba cannot be understated, particularly when considering Simba’s win over tournament favourites APR.

The only thing they haven’t done is taken the silverware home, and considering their achievements so far, few would deny them that honour.

Tusker have been less convincing but incredibly potent to get goals from nowhere, a fact that will worry the Ugandans.

They scored three goals against Simba. Against Yanga, a side quite fast paced, Tusker produced one of their top performance of the tournament; overpowering favorites, holding them back and won fierce counterattack.

Their deficiencies at the back were compensated for by a strong defensive foundation in midfield, one they will be eager to replicate today.

Goals from wings have been vital for the Kenyans and as such, URA will need to have a strong base in their own midfield and watch the runners to ensure they don’t get hit on the break.

Ends