Charles Nyende
30 June 2009
Khartoum, Sudan — Defending champions Tusker could not have asked for a trickier Cecafa opener when they step out at 8pm on Wednesday night at the Port Sudan Stadium to face home side Hey Al-Arab.
"It is very important that we win the first match and we will be considering this match as very important. Hey are at home and will be advantaged," Tusker coach James Nandwa said.
Hey, founded in 1928, are based in Port Sudan. They were eliminated in the preliminary round of the Confederations Cup this year in their first continental appearance since 2000 when they were eliminated in the second round of the CAF Cup.
Nandwa said Tusker were looking to make it to the final of the regional contest. With five titles to their credit, Tusker are the most successful club at this championship amongst the 12 participating teams this year.
They won back-to-back titles as Kenya Breweries in 1988 and 1989 and repeated the same feat in 2000 and 2001 before their most recent title last year.
"We are defending champions and we know teams will come all out against us. I have a good team and we are serious about retaining the trophy," Nandwa said.
The brewers will be banking on a non-native from the region to help deliver another crown. Striker Joseph Emeka comes to the tournament as the Kenyan Premier League lead scorer, having struck eight times this season.
'Finisher'
"Emeka is a finisher," Nandwa summed up the Nigerian hitman whose choice of strike partners are Augustine Etemis, Humphrey Ongoli, Oscar Kadenge and Simeon Mburu.
Jockins Atudo, Noah Abich, Christopher Litswa and former Kenya fullback Edwin Mukenya should man the backline with Fred Ojwang', Nassan Mutenza, Jerry Santos, Joseph Njuguna and Japhary Oyando in midfield.
The match will be played on artificial turf, a surface Nandwa described as difficult. Tusker held several training sessions at City Stadium which has an artificial surface to familiarise themselves with the Port Sudan conditions.
Tusker won the title last year at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
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OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT… [Read Full Text]