Andrew Jackson Oryada
10 July 2009
Khartoum — After riding his luck into the semifinals of the Cecafa-Kagame Clubs Championship, Ugandan coach Sam Timbe leads his Rwanda side Atraco FC against a hard battling Mathare United at El-Merriekh Stadium hoping to reach the penultimate hurdle.
"This is going to be a big game because Mathare beat us 2-1 in the group stage. But we are not ready to lose to the same team again," confessed Timbe yesterday morning at Palace Hotel. Against the buoyant Kenyans, Atraco's biggest worry will be the head injury to defender Alou Gaseruka, who gave KCC's striker Robert Ssentongo a bloody nose during the quarter final clash on Wednesday. "Gaseruka is part of my plans and I hope he will be available for selection," prayed Timbe. The former Cranes goalkeeper will be chasing a third Kagame Club Championship title after victories with SC Villa in 2005 and Police FC in 2006, all in Tanzania.
Asked about rewriting history to win another Kagame Cup trophy with a third different team, Timbe said he was only focussing on the semifinal game at the moment. "I'm actually not thinking about any records here. I just want my team to do well. No one gave us a chance when we started but here we are in the semis now," Timbe said.
In the absence of Joseph Kabagame who disappeared in Khartoum because of the transfer saga involving Sudanese side Al-Neer, Atraco will bank on Ugandans Godfrey Kateregga, Mike Ssebalinga, Johnson Bagoole, Alimansi Kadogo, Peter Kagabo, Charles Kawuma and Hamis Kitagenda, who is the leading scorer with three goals, if they are to reach the final. The tournament climaxes on Sunday with the winner bagging $50,000, the runner-up $30,000 and the third placed $20,000.
Results -Wednesday quarters
KCC F 0-4 Atraco
Tusker 1 (2)-1 (3) Mathare Utd
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