Payback time for APR against Yanga

Semi finalsThursdayAS Vita vs Azam 1pmAPR vs Yanga 4pm SS9, TVRYesterdayQuarterfinalsAtletico 1-2 AS Vita ClubAzam 3-1 SimbaTHREE-TIME Cecafa/Kagame Cup winners APR face a grueling task against the defending champions Yanga Africans in what promises to be an absorbing semi-final contest on Thursday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.The two teams were both in Group C and Yanga won the contest 2-0 but APR’s Dutch coach Ernest Brandt, after seeing off favorites URA in the quarterfinal on Monday, admitted his team will be going all out for revenge. “We had our better moments against Yanga in the group stage encounter but we lost without scoring, and now you can say we are going into the semifinal clash against them seeking some sort of revenge,” said Brandts.The former Dutch international, whose contract runs out on July 31, acknowledges APR’s hunger and desire to win the regional tournament away from home for the very first time, saying, “We’re on a mission to win it here.”APR set up a semi-final clash with defending champions Yanga after holding off a late surge from URA to win the encounter 2-1 on Monday. Jean Claude Iranzi and Selemani Ndikumana scored the goals for the military side.URA were clearly on the back foot but after the half-time break caused all sorts of problems to APR, resulting in Robert Ssentongo’s consolation goal on the 56th minute, but it wasn’t enough.The military side will miss the services of attacking midfielder cum striker Kabange Twite, who was sent off for a second bookable offence.Yanga’s passage to Thursday’s semi-final was hard-fought after Mafunzo scored an early goal when Ali Mmanga rose to head in off a corner.The Zanzibar side led until half-time but two minutes after the resumption, Yanga pressed forward and levelled through Said Bahanuzi for his fourth goal of the tournament. Yanga won 5-3 on penalties.The first semi final will be played on Thursday between AS Vita Club and Azam.The final will be played on Saturday, with the winners receiving US$30,000 and the runners-up US$20,000 and US$10,000 respectively.

Sports

Payback time for APR against Yanga