Andrew Jackson Oryada
5 July 2009
Somalia's Benadir FC have an outside chance of making it to the last eight if they register a win over KCC FC in this evening's Group B match.
However, while the Somalians are hopeful that an already-qualified KCC will contemplate reserving some energy, coach George 'Best' Nsimbe's players are promising to treat the game seriously to finish as group winners.
"We know what is at stake and will not take the last group game lightly. These Somalians can be very dangerous and more so know they need victory in this game to make it to the quarter finals," said KCC'skipper Sam Mubiru who is enjoying superb form.
LETHAL MAN: KCC striker Ssentongo shields the ball against Prisons on Friday
Benadir needs a point to squeeze through but for KCC, a win will ensure a relatively easier quarter final possibly against the likes of El-Arab or Sam Timbe's Atraco.
"We underrated our opponents in the last match. But today will be a different ball game because we need all three points to be in a better position as we head to the last eight," explained Nsimbe who has become the darling of the Sudanese fans.
Apart from defender Moses Musoke who needs to pass a late fitness test, KCC will make no changes to the team that shocked the fancied DR Congo outfit TP Mazembe team 3-2 and stopped Prisons of Tanzania 3-1 on Friday.
Humbled Benadir
Benadir, with five Kenyans in its ranks, will be keen to make a statement after suffering an 8-1 whitewash against TP Mazembe.
The other games today see TP Mazembe, led by star Tresor Mabi Mputu, take on Prisons while in Port Sudan, home side Al-Arab will battle Miembeni.
Holders Tusker, who had Uganda's Nathan Mutenza score in their 6-0 demolition of Miembeni FC, play Burundian champions Inter Stars. US$50,000 (Shs106m) awaits the winning team of the tournament.
Group B standings
P W D L F A Pts
KCC FC 2 2 0 0 6 3 6
Mazembe 2 1 0 1 10 4 3
Prisons 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
Benadir 2 0 1 1 3 10 1
Khartoum
Friday results
KCC 3-1 Prisons
Benadir 1-8 TP Mazembe
Miembeni 0-6 Tusker
Inter Stars 1-1 Hey El-Arab
Today
KCC v Benadir
TP Mazembe v Prisons
Tusker v Inter Stars
Hey El-Arab v Miembeni
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
