Ndoli rushed to hospital as Cranes win 4-0

Results

Zanzibar 2  Somali    0
Uganda  4   Rwanda 0

Today
Djibouti  v   Burundi
Kenya    v   Zambia

KAMPALA - Four second half goals by hosts Uganda Cranes caused a big blow to a battle hardened Rwanda side last night in the on-going Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Mandela Stadium, Namboole in Kampala.

The Amavubi Stars who played as a unit in the first half totally lost their plot on resumption to concede a goal in the 58th minute through a Tony Mawejje free kick.

The goal disorganized the Amavubi pattern of play as they attacked to try and get an equalizer, but left the midfield flat and defence over stretched.

Amavubi goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli was unlucky to get badly injured in the 66th minute as he came out to try and stop advancing Cranes striker Ceaser Okuti, but caused a penalty and got injured in the process.

As Kenyan referee Alfred Ndinya pointed to the spot, Ndoli was being rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Defender Simeon Masaba stepped forward and netted past substitute goalkeeper Patrick Rutayisire.

With five minutes to full time substitutes Brian Owony and Stephen Bengo scored two more goals to dent Rwanda’s chances o making it to the next round.

"This is a perfect start to the tournament,” said Uganda’s Scottish tactician Bobby Williamson. Although striker Kamana Bokota Labama had tormented the Ugandan defence, the final kill of goal was lacking.

Rwanda’s Croatian coach Branko Tucak was a disappointed man after the final whistle. He told Times Sport that the referee had clearly denied them a penalty in the first half after Kamana Bokota Labama had been brought down.

"We have started so badly, but I hope we can get the team together and win our next games in the group,” added Tucak who is having his first feel of the Cecafa championship.

After Zanzibar’s 2-0 win over Somalia in an earlier game at the same stadium, Rwanda now need to win their next two games to brighten their chances of making it to the later stages of the tournament.

Today action resumes in Group B in Bugembe stadium as Djibouti face Burundi and Kenya battle table leaders Chipolopolo of Zambia.

Defending champions Sudan were held to a 0-0 draw by Kenya in their opening game of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup (Cecafa).

The two teams adopted a cautious approach, with few clear-cut chances in front of goal. Both coaches Ahmed Babikir of Sudan and Kenya’s Francis Kimanzi said they were satisfied with the outcome, however.

The result saw Zambia go top of Group B, after they eased to a 3-0 victory over minnows Djibouti. The fancied Zambians lived up to their billing in the first half, scoring all three goals inside the opening 45 minutes.

Given Singuluma netted two goals in the 25th and 38th minutes, while Jonas Silakuwa scored the third a minute before half-time.

The Chipolopolo failed, however, to build on their lead in the second half against a Djibouti side who conceded 30 goals in 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Zambia are participating as guests, replacing Eritrea, who withdrew from the two-week tournament.

Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan and Zambia are all using the competition as preparation for the final phase of the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in March.

The winner of the event will walk away with US$30,000.

Ends