Rayon face Awassa in Kagame Cup

TablesGroup AStandings: P W D L F A PtsSimba 2 1 0 1 7 3 6Vital’O 2 1 0 1 4 3 6Tusker 2 1 0 1 4 4 6Benadir 2 1 0 1 2 6 6 Group BStandings: P W D L F A PtsURA 2 1 1 0 5 2 4Awassa 1 0 1 0 1 1 1Rayon 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 Group CStandings: P W D L F A PtsMiembeni 1 1 0 0 2 1 6Yanga 1 0 1 0 2 2 1APR 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 TodayRayon Sport v Awassa City, 3pm (Moro)Miembeni v Yanga, 3pm (Dar es Salaam) DAR –ES-SALAAM - Situational striker Labama Bokota will be main absentee when Rwanda’s second’s representative Rayon Sport take on Ethiopia’s champions Awassa Fc in Group B’s last game in Morogoro today. Both teams go into today’s game seeking to join URA from this group into the quarter-finals of the on going Cecafa/Kagame Cup Club Championship. With Bokota missing coach Rayon head coach Raoul Shungu will rely on the vast experience of Jean Lomami and Jimmy Gatete in the attack. Rayon lost their first game to URA 4-1 while Awassa held the 2007 losing finalists 1-1 on Wednesday. “I am sure this team is capable of anything. You can not write us off because I know we are a good side and we shall win this game,” Rayon’s team manager Faruko Nduwumwe told Times Sport from Morogoro. Going into the tournament, Shungu doubted his team’s chances of winning the title, their second since the 1998 success due to what he called ‘lack of quality players and the poor organization within the club hierarchy’. Shungu, who is under pressure from both his bosses and the fans alike to bring success to the club, has spent more time dealing with players who AWOL (Away without Official Leave) than concentrating on putting in better performances for the team. Rayon traveled for the two-week tournament with key players that include Bokota, Taribo Emma, Cyril Pizzolera, Geremi Dusenge and Ndume Wa Ndume. However, play-maker Kalisa Kase is with the team and he is expected to start today’s game. In 1998 during Raoul Shungu first spell in charge, Rayon became the first Rwandan club to win regional club championship held in Zanzibar. Experienced pair of Kase and Jimmy Kidega should be at the centre of action in the quest of breaking down any Awassa’s ambition of getting forward. Gatete is likely to start alongside skipper Lomami up front, the duo does have years of experience of playing at the top level and can be a major threat to a relatively small opposition’s back four. Meanwhile in group B, Zanzibar’s Miembeni will be the only confident side in the double pairing having already made it to the quarter-finals following their impressive 2-1victory over champions APR early in the week. They take on mainland compatriots Young Africa in Dar es Salaam with the pressure on the bigger brothers, who must at least draw to be sure of a straight march into the quarters. A loss for Yanga would mean they fight for a place with the Group B loser for the best loser’s slot. Ends

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Rayon face Awassa in Kagame Cup