Simba's chance

HOSTS Simba SC will hope to bounce back from a disheartening 2-0 loss to Ugandan side URA today when they face minnows Ports from Djibouti in their second match of the Cecafa Kagame Cup. Last year’s beaten finalists left their fans with a bitter taste in their mouth after capitulating at the hands of the Ugandan champions and any indifferent performance from them will put paid to their hopes of winning a record seventh Cecafa regional Club Championships and their first since their last triumph in 2002.

Coach Milovan Cirlovic did not mince his words after seeing his side embarrassed in front of their home supporters and bluntly told his players that they will have no where to hide and no one to blame should they not right the wrongs they committed against URA. “As professionals, it is important that players follow the instructions of their coach. That was not the case against URA though we played well and created chances, we were still not good enough to win and will have to improve our game today,” said the Serbian coach.

With only two teams qualifying from their group, Simba and Ports are aware that anything short of victory today will see one of them bid the tournament goodbye. The Djibouti side will be playing to redeem themselves from the walloping they suffered at the hands of Vital’O Club. Ports were humiliated 7-0 by the Burundian side and they would imagine it cannot get worse today against the pride of ‘Mismbazi’.

Tanzanian born Salim Kinje and Uganda international Musa Mudde both of whom played in the Kenya Premier League are expected to line up against the Djibouti outfit. Kinje played for Leopards recently while Mudde was with Sofapaka. Zambian international striker Felix Sunzu will also be among the Zambian brigade searching for the all important goals.

Meanwhile, Burundian champions Vital’O club and Ugandan representatives URA go into today clash with both teams having a fair shot at becoming the first chasm from Group ‘A’ to reach the last eight of the regional club championships after winning their maiden encounters in this year’s finals. Vita got everyone to notice in their opening fixture of the group thrashing Ports of Djibouti by seven unanswered goals and will now need to avoid defeat in their last two matches of the group to reach the knockout stages. Their first chance is on this afternoon when they face 2010 Ugandan champions URA, who sent shortwaves in the coastal city of Dar by beating home team Simba in the opening game, thanks to a double form Feni Ali.