9 July 2009
Kampala — HUGELY improved Atraco will be out to pay back their group stage loss to Kenya's Mathare United when the two sides clash in the CECAFA semi-final tonight.
Mathare, a club from one of Africa's biggest slums, beat the Rwandan champions 3-2 with a 90th minute winner to emerge one of Group A's top two quarter-final qualifiers.
But in one of the 35-year competition's most dramatic recoveries Atraco, also 6-1 losers to El Merreikh, pulled off a 5-0 win to advance to the quarter-finals as one of the best losers.
Sam Timbe's biggest boost came on Wednesday when he registered the tournament's biggest shock by mauling heavyweights KCC 4-0 to book a semi-final date with the Kenyan champions.
Timbe, hunting for his third CECAFA title, will again rely on seasoned names like Hamis Kitagenda, Andre Lomani, Johnson Bagoole and Jean Shyaka to overrun Mathare defence.
Mathare coach Francis Kimanzi has on the other hand been boosted by the return of key defender Edgar Ochieng from suspension.
Mathare got a semi-final slot after edging fellow Kenyan side and defending champions Tusker 3-2 on post match penalties. The two sides drew 1-1 in normal time. Timbe prides in a free scoring striking line but he will encounter a solid defence today led by Duncan Ochieng who saved three penalties on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, two-time world champions Nigeria have been invited for next month's Cecafa youth championship which will take place in Sudan.
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