Kenyans brace for Zambia match in east African tourney
24/12/2008 17:32
West African team Zambia have been pitted in the same group with defending
champions Sudan in the east African soccer tournament - Cecafa Senior Challenge
Cup, local media reported.
Zambia also will play Djibouti, Burundi, Kenya in
Group B while they have avoided nine-time winners and hosts Uganda, drawn in
Group A which also has Zanzibar, Tanzania, Rwanda and Somalia.
The
"Chipolopolo" boys will be making a return to the East and Central African
Championship after a one-year absence.
Keyan side is hoping to revenge the
2-0 defeat by Zambia they suffered in 1991, Daily Nation newspaper
said
"Zambia is a very strong side and they have proved just that in the
recent past. Nonetheless, their presence in the tournament will add flare and
make the matches more challenging," said Kenya's head coach, Francis
Kimanzi.
Midfielder Jamal Mohammed also expressed confidence in Kenya
maintaining their momentum as they seek to underline their authority in the
region.
"All the matches in the tournament are going to be tough. But we have
been training hard and hope to continue with our winning ways. We have to keep
our composure, our concentration," he said.
Mohammed predicted an
entertaining encounter against the West Africans. "Although Zambia are not in
our Cecafa region, they're a good side. They will be targeting to win in Uganda.
But in football, what matters in the 90 minutes of play," said
Mohammed.
Zambia were invited as guests to replace Eritrea who have withdrawn
from the two-week tournament.
"We believe that Zambia is a strong side that
will make the Cecafa tournament more challenging," Cecafa secretary general
Nicholas Musonye told the Daily Nation.
Uganda will take on Rwanda, Tanzania,
Zanzibar and Somalia in Group A. Despite being guests, the Chipolopolo are not
newcomers to the Cecafa Cup tournament.
Xinhua
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