Heroes fight off Amavubi
A Khamis Mcha Khamis brace was enough for Zanzibar to starve off a late Rwanda fight back as the Heroes beat the Amavubi 2-0 at a muddy Namboole on Thursday.
The result increased coach Salum Nassor’s side’s chances of the making the last eight of this year’s Cecafa Tusker Cup after they drew goalless with Eritrea in Group C opener.
For Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic’s Amavubi Stars, it couldn’t have gotten worse coming off a similar scoreline win over Malawi in their opening game.
Group C now has Zanzaibar topping with four points, Malawi and Rwanda on three. Eritrea are bottom with a point.
Zanzibar did not have to wait long to get out of their blocks, a patch of water proving their lucky charm.
Jean Claude Ndori, the Rwandan goalkeeper, raced out of this territory in an attempt to reach a through ball before Khamis Mcha.
Ndori clearly missed the ball after it was held-up by a muddy patch thanks to an afternoon downpour that left the stadium in distasteful condition. Khamis then picked it up to slot into an empty net on nine minutes against the run of play.
Zanzibar, having drawn goalless their opener with Eritrea, came close to making it 2-0 but Ndori saved well from Gulman Abdalla.
Rwanda pressed hard to draw level before the interval but Ally Mwadini kept out Jerome Sina and Haruna Nyonzima’s efforts.
The second period wasn’t any different, both sides trading blows on the water soaked pitch. But the moment arrived on 62 minutes, a through ball slicing the Rwandan backline and Khamis Mcha gladly receiving it to complete his brace with a sweet left placing.
The Amavubi did pull one back on 79 minutes when substitute Dady Birori headed in a cross from the right but the Heroes held on for all three points.
