Champions set up semi-final clash with St. George

Kagame Cup

Yesterday (quarter-finals)

St.George 5-0 Telkom
Atraco      2-0 Vital O

Today (semifinals)

Sofapaka vs APR

Thursday

Atraco vs St.George
 
ATRACO are now two games away from becoming the only Rwandan side to retain the Kagame Cup trophy after a spirited second half display that saw them eject Vital’O 2-0 yesterday at Amahoro stadium.

Playing under bad weather conditions, the taxi men side failed to make their presence felt in the first half but Coach Sam Timbe’s half time talk seemed to yield results as the team finally broke the deadlock on the 52nd minute through Dady Birori.

The striker capitalised on a clever cross from Jabir Mutarambirwa to give the home side the lead.

Captain Jean Lomami then made up for his earlier misses with a 63rd minute strike, his first goal for the tournament.
After the game, Timbe praised his team’s second half display. "They (players) were fantastic in the second half and we are now going to prepare for St.George.”

Earlier in the day, Adane Girma, Mesfin Kidane, Salahadin Said, Desta Micheal and Elias Mamo were all on target as St.George put five past Telkom.

Meanwhile, Bonnie Mugabe reports that going by Sofapaka’s run in the competition, APR are in for an uphill task when the two sides face-off in today’s semi-final at Amahoro stadium.

The Kenyan champions, who reached the last four after edging Rayon Sport on penalties (7-6), remain the only side yet to concede a goal in normal time of play and APR coach Erik Paske reckons his team has to be sharp to break this run.

"Sofapaka is a good side with aerial and physical players so we need to take the game to them,” the Dutch said.

APR skipper Patrick Mafisango continued, "We can not sit back because they will take full advantage of that. We need to get in their faces and stop them from playing.”

APR, who are chasing for a third Kagame Cup title, stormed the semis after a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Simba of Tanzania.

But Sofapaka Coach Sam Ssimbwa, who spent two seasons at Atraco, says he has been craving for the clash.

"I wanted to meet APR because I know exactly what to expect from them. I have beaten them before with Atraco and believe I can do it again,” the Ugandan bragged.

Ends