Amisi Tambwe (right) of Burundi’s Vital ‘O’ controls the ball under pressure from a Ports of Djibouti opponent during the Cecafa Club Championships in Sudan in 2013. PHOTO | FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP
By ISAAC SWILA
KIGALI, Burundi champions Vital ‘O’ will embark on their defense of the Cecafa Club Championships on Saturday afternoon (2pm) against Benadir FC of Somalia in a Group C fixture.
Vital ‘O’, who were crowned champions last year when they beat Rwanda’s military side APR 2-0 in Sudan, will be hoping to hit the ground running with an emphatic win over the perceived minnows of the tournament.
Although Benadir have won six league titles and three domestic cups back home in Somalia, they are considered underdogs in the match against the title holders.
Vital ‘O’, on the other hand, along with Sudanese giants El Merreikh hold the favourites tag for this year’s edition of the annual tournament.
QUARTER FINALS BERTHS
With El Merreikh also in Group C, the two quarter finals berths in the group appear to be predetermined even before the matches begin.
The mega-rich Sudanese outfit will be in action later on Saturday (4pm) with a match against host team Police.
El Merreikh’s recently acquired Kenyan international striker Allan Wanga is expected to make the team’s starting line up for the match.
The 28 year old, who made a big money switch from AFC Leopards to the Sudanese capital side two months ago estimated at Sh4.5 million, has been in a rich vein of form and bagged a brace two weeks ago in a cup competition match in Sudan.
In the day’s final match, home team APR be will be up against Atletico of Burundi in a Group B contest.
Atletico were invited into the tournament as last minute replacements for fellow countrymen Flambeau De Est who pulled out at the eleventh hour.
However, despite their arrival in Rwanda on short notice, they should provide a stern test for the highly rated APR.
With Rayon Sports and Police also in the competition, Rwanda is represented by three teams hence the host nation’s high chances of winning the title.
But of the three teams, it is APR which should make the biggest impression in the tournament.
The Rwandan military side will be looking to the add to the two club titles that they won in 2004 and 2007.
Source: Daily Nation