ZANZIBAR’S Waziri Salum Omar heads the ball as he vies with South Sudan opponents next to teammate Suleiman Kassim (right) during the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Challenge Cup match in Nairobi. Zanzibar won 2-1. (AFP photo)ZANZIBAR’S Waziri Salum Omar heads the ball as he vies with South Sudan opponents next to teammate Suleiman Kassim (right) during the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Challenge Cup match in Nairobi. Zanzibar won 2-1. (AFP photo)
ZANZIBAR Heroes made a bright start into this year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup with a 2-1 victory over South Sudan in an entertaining Group A opening match at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Wednesday.
South Sudan’s Fabian Elias Lako’s 74th minutes strike was not enough to cancel out a first half goal by attacking midfielder Selemani Kassim Selembe and Ayedoum Salehe Ahmed’s second half strike.
Zanzibar Heroes, who defied all odds last year in Kampala, Uganda to snatch the third place berth after beating their brothers Kilimanjaro Stars 1-0 in a play-off, clearly showed their intent to go much further this time around with an assured performance.
It took them hardly five minutes to break the deadlock when Selembe scored courtesy of a blunder by goalkeeper Juma Ginaro. Immediately after conceding the goal, South Sudan, who are making their second appearance in the annual regional tournament, reorganized and seized control of the game.
They created a number of scoring opportunities but could not make the most out of the chances. Certainly inexperience slightly took its toll. Midway in the fist half, Zanzibar Heroes, under the tutelage of Salum Bausi, got themselves together and tried to run the play.
However, they almost conceded in the 29th minute when defender Mohammed Faki gave a free kick at the edge of the box but James Joseph blasted his shot over the bar.
The ‘big’ striker, who partnered well with fellow giant striker Francis Khamis, made life difficult for Zanzibar Heroes defenders as they ran rings around the islanders but keeper Abdallah Rashid Abdallah stood firm to thwart several clear cut dangers.
Ally Badru Ally, who was playing as an out and out striker for Zanzibar Heroes, was equally a constant threat to South Sudan defenders with his incisive running and power in air and on the ground. The newly signed Simba SC striker almost forced the second goal in the 38th minute.
He pocked the ball from the keeper and slid it to arriving Khamis Mcha Khamis, but the latter’s feeble shot came off the post. Mcha was then stretched off after picking an injury and he was replaced by Amour Omar Mohammed in the 41st minute.
After the break, it was an end to end affair but the Sudanese looked as a more side likely to score. Francis Khamis’ diving header came off the cross bar in the 47th minute and a follow up shot by James Joseph was blocked by Heroes keeper. The busy Heroes keeper was again called off his line, this time to tip over the bar another header from Francis in the 52nd minute.
Zanzibar Heroes’ goal came under more siege after an hour mark as the Sudanese kept pouring forward. In the 61st minute Joseph overpowered Heroes defenders but his glancing header was blocked by the outstanding goalkeeper.
Heroes responded with a fierce attack when Ayedoum’s swing cross from the left was parried off by the keeper and Badru raced to finish it off but couldn’t beat him.
The Heroes were 2-0 up in the 68th minute through Ayedoum’s fierce left foot volley but there was still time for South Sudan to score a consolation goal in the 74th minute through Lako.
Written by DAILY NEWS Reporter/Agencies
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