ATRACO coach Sam Timbe admits his team has a big mountain to climb during next month’s Kagame Cup.

The reigning champions were placed in Group C together with Kenyan giants Sofapaka, Uganda Revenue Authority and Simba of Tanzania in the draw that took place in Nairobi on Tuesday.

"It’s clear for everyone to see that we are in a tough group. They are all big sides in their respective countries.”

"Our performance in the competition will depend on how well we prepare for the competition,” the Ugandan coach noted.

Meanwhile, URA coach Alex Isabirye is confident his side will reach the knock out stage despite being pitted against his compatriots (Timbe and Sam Ssimbwa of Sofapaka).

"It’s a difficult group but I’m confident we shall manage. I know a little bit about Simba and we also played Sofapaka in February, so they won’t be much of a surprise,” said Isabirye, who took over from erstwhile URA coach Moses Basena over a month back, adding: "Atraco are of course the defending champions (Cecafa).”

URA was eliminated in the preliminaries of the Orange Champions League by Zambia’s Zanaco and is currently second in the Super League with 47 points.

Atraco and Sofapaka also suffered hasty exits in the Orange Confederations Cup.

After a two-year absence, seven-time winners Simba are representing Tanzania in the absence of Yanga who are serving a three-year ban for boycotting classification match when the tournament was hosted by Dar-es-Salaam in 2008.

Simba will march into the competition, just days after their Confederation Cup return leg against Egyptian side Harras El Hodoud.

Group A: APR, TP Mazembe (DRC), Vital’O (Burundi) and Telkom from Djibouti.

Group B: St. George, Heartland (Nigeria), Mafunzo (Zanzibar) and Rayon Sport.

Group C: Sofapaka, URA, Atraco and Simba.

Ends