Tanzania’s forward Winifrida Gerald was voted Best Player as the CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship 2023 came to a climax on Friday in Dar es Salaam.

The forward who also netted the lone goal that sunk Uganda in the final match yesterday played a pivotal role to help Tanzania win all their four matches in the Championship that attracted five teams.

“I am happy that I was voted best player. But we played as a team to win the trophy, ” said Winifrida Gerald who netted two goals in the tournament.

Winifrida Gerald who features for Fountain Gate School was also voted Best female Player at the inaugural 2022/23 CAF African Schools Football Championship held in South Africa. She was also the top scorer with 11 goals in the same tournament.

Ethiopia’s Emush Daniel Dandamo who finished with five goals won the top scorer’s Award, while Tanzania’s Husna Mtunda was voted best goalkeeper. Burundi picked the Fair Play Award.

Wallace Karia, the CECAFA and Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President and his Vice President Athumani Nyamlani, the newly elected President of the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF) Suleiman Mahmoud Jabir, and the Tanzania Council of Sports General Secretary Neema Msita graced the Awards ceremony.

The head coach of Tanzania’s U-18 Women’s team, Bakari Nyundo Shime has applauded his team for winning the Zonal CECAFA Championship.

Hosts Tanzania defeated Uganda 1-0 on Friday to win the CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.

Winifrida Gerald scored the lone goal after 42 minutes to ensure Tanzania finished top of the log with 12 points, three ahead of Uganda.

” I thank my players for the hard work because they won all the four matches. It is these kind of matches and competitions that will help us build a very solid team for the future, ” explained Shime.

He made it clear that although his team did not score so many goals in the competition, they played well as a team and showed good play in all departments. ” We need to keep improving and playing in many more competitions, ” added the coach who also guided Tanzania to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India last year.

While Tanzania finished with 12 points, Uganda came second with 9 points, while Ethiopia collected 6 points. Burundi and Zanzibar finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Action will now shift to the Zonal CECAFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers slated for August 12-30th in Uganda.

The CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship 2023 will come to climax this evening at the Azam Complex, Chamazi in Dar es Salaam.

Zanzibar will face Burundi in the first match, and the two giants Uganda and Tanzania who are both tied at 9 points will tussle it out to decide who emerges champion.

The Ugandan team under the watchful eyes of coach Khalifa Ayub can afford to pick a draw because of their superior goal difference. Uganda have scored 11 goals and conceded none, while Tanzania have netted six and also kept a clean sheet.

” We know that we must win to win the trophy. The players know what is expected of them and we shall treat the match with a lot of care, ” said Tanzania’s coach Bakari Nyundo Shime who also led the Tanzania team to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India last year.

But Uganda’s coach Ayub as said they will treat the match with a lot of caution because they are battling a home team that will have all the support. “We muist go out and try to win instead of battling for a draw, ” says Ayub.

Tanzania will look to their leading scorer Aisha Juma Mnunka who has netted three goals in the tournament, while Uganda’s four players Kamiyat Naigaga, Shamsha Najjuma, Allen Nassali and Phiona Nabulime who have each scored two goals will also be hungry to increase their goal tally.

The Championship played on a round robin basis kicked off on July 25th. ” We are happy that the Championship has given the youngsters a good platform to get good match practice. It has been a competitive Championship, ” says Auka Gecheo, the Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

After eight matches played 26 goals have been scored, while 14 yellow cards were dished out, and no red card. While Uganda and Tanzania have collected 9 points, Ethiopia are third with 6 points, while Zanzibar are in 4th place and Burundi who have conceded a 12 goals are bottom.

Uganda have gone top of the table in the on-going CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship after their impressive 7-0 win against Burundi on Tuesday in a match played at the Azam Complex, Chamazi in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

After the emphatic win, head coach Coach Khalifa Ayub said he was impressed with the way his team came all out to play good football and score many goals.

” We have been wasting several scoring chances in the first two matches. But against Burundi the team was solid and determined to perform well, ” said a happy Ugandan coach.

Kamiyat Naigaga and substitute Shamsha Najjuma netted a brace each, while Agnes Nabukenya, Phionah Nabulime and Allen Nasaazi also got their names on the score sheet.

Burundi’s Neema Nzohabonayo got one good chance, but her effort was saved by Uganda’s goalkeeper Sharon Kaidu.

Phionah Nabulime, Uganda’s captain said they were determined to play with more intent because no team is an easy opponent in the Championship. ” We now need to prepare well ahead of our last match against Tanzania who are also yet to suffer defeat, ” added the captain.

Uganda and Tanzania each have nine points, but Ayub’s team lead on the log because of a superior goal difference.

In an earlier match Ethiopia showed good form in their last match in the Championship with a 6-1 win against Zanzibar.

Emush Daniel Dandamo netted three, while Mahelet Bekele scored a brace. Tinbit Samuel Bassa was also on the score sheet. Zanzibar’s only goal was netted by skipper Hawa Juma through a penalty conversion after 22 minutes.

Ethiopia finished third on the log with 6 points after losing two matches and winning two. Action returns on Friday with Zanzibar facing Burundi, while table leaders Uganda battle Tanzania.