Sports

Atletico shock Yanga

Burundi’s Atletico striker, Christian Mbilizi (left), battle for the ball with Yanga’s defender, Kelvin Yondani in Kagame Cup opening match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday

BURUNDI’S Atletico put up a stunning performance to pull  a shocking 0-2 win over defending champions Young Africans, in the opening match of the 2012 Kagame Cup at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Didier Kavumbagu brace in the last ten minutes of the game, ensured that Yanga are buried under the visitors’ goal avalanche. The game started on a high tempo and the two teams attacked in turns but the defences stood firm. Yanga threatened on the first minute when Ugandan striker Hamisi Kiiza was set up inside the area but his weak shot was saved by keeper, Said Ndikumana.

The hosts went close again in the 12th minute, when defensive midfielder, Athumani Idd, attempted a powerful low shot from a 30 metres’ free kick but the attempt went inches wide off the right post.Atletico hardly sat back as they too launched a series of dangerous moves which were, however, thwarted by Yanga defence marshalled by skipper Nadir Haroub and new signing Kelvin Yondani.

Most of the Burundian side’s attacks came through the right flank, where muscular winger, Claude Nahimana, was a constant menace.Yanga got three corner kicks on the 36th minute and left fullback, David Luhende, took all of them but the team failed to exploit the opportunities.

The defending champions continued to press forward during the closing stages of the half but Atletico defence cleared the attempts to see the two sides settle for the barren draw at the breather.Yanga survived a scare on the 58th minute as Atletico centre back skipper, Hassan Habizimana, tested keeper Yaw Berko, with a fierce shot that hit the left post.

The visitors pressured later and notched the opener on the 80th minute through striker, Didier Kavumbagu, who pounced on cross from Christian Mbilizi from the right. Kavumbagu was on target again on the 90th minute after he was released almost 20 metres an easily beat onrushing keeper, Berko.

Atletico put up a good challenge against Yanga and took a surprise advantage in ball possession in the first 45 minutes of group C encounter and continued with the same good performance in the restart, while showing defensive discipline.In the early Group C kick off at the same venue South Sudan's Al Salaam Wau suffered a 7-0 thrashing by Rwanda's APR.

The game was the first competitive fixture overseas for any club from South Sudan, a country that celebrated its first anniversary of independence on Monday.Lionel St Preus and Selemani Ndikumana grabbed a brace each, while Jean Baptist Mugireneza, veteran striker Olivier Karekezi and Barnabe Mubumbyi scored a goal each to welcome the debutants into the tournament with a baptism of fire.

Despite being guilty of losing the ball too easily Al Salaam did create several good chances to score a goal in their debut.
Despite the defeat Al Salaam's assistant coach Mel Yok Kuol was happy with the performance."It was a very good game - our players weren't in good condition as we travelled from Juba by car," he said.

APR's Dutch coach Ernest Brandy also felt there was more to come from the debutants."They have some good players in the team, but they have to play more and more to get better," he said.On Sunday Mainland Champions Simba will face Uganda’s URA at the same venue. Other matches will pit Vita Club of DR Congo and Ports Djibouti in an early kick off  at the Azam complex in Chamazi, Azam and Mafunzo will also face off at the same venue later.