Monday, August 3, 2015
Dar es Salaam. It was an
eventful and historic afternoon yesterday as hosts Azam FC stunned
favourites Gor Mahia of Kenya 2-0 to win their first ever Cecafa Kagame
Cup title at the National Stadium.
Backed by many
Kenyans, including opposition leader Raila Odinga, Gor Mahia, who were
seeking their first regional title in 30 years, struggled to contain the
ice cream makers in the nail-biting final.
The
thrilling clash pitted a team that have had the best defensive record
(Azam) against an outfit that had grown from strength to strength in the
region’s premier club tournament.
Azam, who conceded
no goal on the way to yesterday’s final, went into the showdown with
five straight clean sheets, scoring a total of nine goals while the
Kenyan champions had netted 14 goals in six games.
The
hosts’ regular goal-getter John Bocco broke the stalemate after 16
minutes and Kipre Tchetche put the icing on the cake midway the second
half to give Stewart Hall’s team the convincing win and the regional
title in only their second appearance in the final.
Quick
reaction in the semis against Khartoum had given the K’Ogalo a decent
3-1 win, but Azam were in no mood to give away such chances. Aggrey
Moris Ambrose and Morald Said Hussein led by the intolerable Pascal Wawa
showcased high levels of defensive discipline.
Tournament
leading scorer Michael Olunga and arguably the tournament Most Valuable
Player felt the rage. It wasn’t only Olunga struggling, Meddie Kagere,
Innocent Wafula, and Geoffrey Walusimbi all in turns tested Azam’s mean
defense.
Manula Aishi Salum proved that it wasn’t his
defense that was making him look good in Azam’s goal, in the final he
was up to the task in moments his defense was beaten.
Five
minutes after the break, Tchetche would have increased that lead; his
effort from the left beat Gor’s custodian Boniface Olouch but the
woodwork denied the Ivorian import.
Khalid fouled Jean
Mugiranenza 25 yards from the goal mouth, Tchetche shot and Gor’s goalie
Boniface Olouch stayed flat footed as the ball found the back of the
net on 65 minutes.
It was Tchetche’s fourth of the
campaign. Abouba Sibomana also got himself in trouble with the man in
red, Louis Hakizimana when he fouled Bocco.
Five time
champions Gor Mahia tried to get back into the game but all in vain
despite being motivated to be playing in their first final since 1985.
The
Championship was Azam’s maiden regional title since their inception on
June 24, 2007, adding to the two Vodacom Premier League title won in
2013 and 2014.
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