CECAFA U-20 CHALLENGE CUP: Kenya too good for 10-man Zanzibar

Kenya Raising Stars are top of Group B ate the on-going Cecafa U-20 Challenge Cup after their emphatic 5-0 win over 10-man Zanzibar in a match played at the Fufa Technical Center Stadium on Sunday. Sydney Lokale netted four goals for Kenya, while substitute Austine Odhiambo Otieno scored the other.

Zanzibar started well but failed to put away the chances through Fahim Rajab Mussa and Khalid Shaban Mbarouk.

After 19 minutes Kenya were awarded a penalty after skipper Mustapha Muhsin Juma brought down Patrick Otieno in the box. Lokale stepped forward took a shot that goalkeeper Ahmed Ali Hamdu stopped, but the Kenyan striker followed and slotted in the rebound to make it 1-0.

The Zanzibar team fell back to defend but Lokale made it 2-0 after 38 minutes when he dribbled well and slotted the ball past advancing goalkeeper Ahmed Ali Hamdu.

In the first 20 minutes of the second half the Zanzibar national U-20 side played with a lot of caution, but still failed to score.

Zanzibar’s skipper later after 70 minutes was sent off for a second bookable offence as the referee awarded a penalty. Lokale again made no mistake from the spot.

The lanky Kenyan striker made sure he leads the top scorers chart after Day 2 when he made it 4-0 after 81 minutes before Otieno also got his name on the score sheet.

“I am happy that we have started with a big win. But we still have to keep working hard because the tournament is in the early stages,” said Kenya’s coach Stanley Okumbi.

The regional tournament sponsored by FIFA has attracted 11 teams.