CECAFA 2009: Zambia breaks Kenya’s heart in opening football match

Hosts ‘Harambe Stars’ of Kenya started on a horrendous note loosing 2-0 to the clinical ‘Chipolopolo boys’ of Zambia, in the first match of the Orange CECAFA senior challenge cup. A rather disappointing result given the professional players that Kenya had fielded.

Two goals, inside four minutes, late in the match from James Chamanga and Felix Sunzu settled the affair which looked evenly-balanced until then.

The Angola African Cup of Nations bound Zambians showed composure and assuredness against the hosts who were cheered on by a packed Nyayo stadium that had football loving Prime Minister Raila Odinga in attendance.

The 33rd Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior challenge Cup also known as Orange CECAFA senior challenge cup, for sponsorship reasons, kicked off yesterday at the Nyayo stadium.

Meanwhile the defending champions, the ‘Uganda Cranes’, will hope to start from where they stopped when they kick-start their title defense today with a date against the ‘Kilimanjaro Stars’ of Tanzania at the Mumia sports complex in the western province of Kenya.

The match will come after another group encounter between ‘Zanzibar Heroes’ and Burundi at the same venue.

Uganda’s participation had been shrouded with uncertainty owing to financial constraints, but they hope to put it behind when they focus and try to win the 30,000 US dollars meant for the champion.

Cecafa action continues tomorrow, Monday, with Ethiopia taking on Djibouti in the only game at Nyayo stadium in Nairobi.

Match Table