CECAFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP: Kenya out to stop defending champions Tanzania

The Kenya Starlets have vowed to go all out to try and win the regional Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup. Coach David Ouma’s team will face the defending champions Kilimanjaro Queens of Tanzania in the final on Monday at the Chamazi Stadium. But before the final Uganda Crested Cranes take on Burundi in the play-off to decide who wins bronze.

“We have played well in the earlier games, scored several goals and conceded none. But this is now the final and the players are rearing to go,” said coach Ouma.

The coach made it clear that although he respects Tanzania, they will make a tactical change that will handle the opponents. In the 2016 Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup final played at the Fufa Technical Center in Njeru, Tanzania defeated Kenya 2-1.

Jentrix Shikangwa, the leading goal scorer in the tournament with eight goals has also vowed to guide Kenya to victory. “After failing to qualify for the next round of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifier, we are hungry to win this regional trophy,” she added.

But Tanzania’s coach Shime Bakari also sounded a confident man saying they have all it takes to retain the trophy. “We need to go all out and play our kind of game to win,” added the coach.

Tanzania struggled to stop Uganda 1-0 at the semi final stage, while Kenya brushed a side Burundi 5-0.

Bakari said he is hoping his strikers can be sharper in the final because early goals will kill off the opponents. The likes of Omary Shurua Mwanahamisi and Donisia Daniel Minja are expected to play pivotal roles for the home side.

Tanzania won the 2016 and 2018 Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup titles. Nicholas Musonye, the Cecafa Secretary General has said the level of the competition this year has been high.

“We are happy with the improvement of all teams. We are glad that Djibouti and South Sudan also sent women’s teams for the first time,” added Musonye.