DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s Coastal Union launched their Group A 2024 CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Somalia’s Dekedaha FC at KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.
Newly signed versatile player Ramadhan Mwenda put the hosts upfront in the additional time of the first half thanks to his towering powerful header.
The former KCB SC player, who features in the Kenya Premier League, was well positioned to net the solitary goal of the tense match from a wellcalculated set-piece as he tries to establish himself at his new club.
In the second half, the visitors came refreshed as they explored every scoring opportunity to level the deficit, but most of their attempts were easily diffused by their opponents.
As Dekedaha pressed hard to get an equaliser, Coastal Union were compelled to do much defending to protect what they already had in their hands until the final whistle sounded to end the game.
However, in an early Group A match played yesterday at the same venue, Sudan’s Al Wadi pocketed maximum points after silencing JKU FC of Zanzibar 1-0 in the tournament’s inaugural fixture at the same venue.
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A 3rd-minute free header by Djibrel Mohamed was enough to give his side a crucial win after using well a set-piece delivered just outside the box.
Mohamed has since gone into record books for becoming the first player to score in the unfolding tournament at a newly unveiled KMC Stadium.
Up next, Al Wadi will play Dekadaha FC as the former will be searching to record a back-to-back win while on the same day, JKU will battle Coastal Union in another interesting game.
In today’s fixtures, Sudan’s giants Al Hilal face Djibouti Telecom before a late clash involving Gor Mahia of Kenya versus Red Arrows from Zambia…both matches unfold at Azam Complex in the city.
Two Group C matches were also played later yesterday between three-time winners SC Villa (Uganda) and Al Merriekh Bentiu FC from South Sudan and Rwanda giants APR FC play against Singida Black Stars FC in the last match of the day.
According to remarks made by CECAFA president Wallace Karia, all matches in this year’s contest will be accessed free of charge to allow many people to witness the showdown.
The tournament is unfolding at KMC Complex and Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam respectively.
The winners at the Dar Port Kagame Cup will pocket US$30,000, while the runnerup takes US$20,000 and the third-placed team US$10,000.
Dar es Salaam Port under the Tanzania Ports Authority and Azam TV are the other partners supporting the regional tournament which will run from July 9th to 21st.
