National Soccer team Harambee Stars on Sunday began their title defence at the CECAFA Senior Challenge with a 1-0 victory over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 

Is there a story unfolding in your community? Let Hivisasa know

Stars found the back of the net in the fourth minute.

The win ensured that the Harambee Stars exacted their revenge on the Taifa Stars who bundled them out of the CHAN qualification campaign about two months ago.

Kenya is the defending champions in this tournament and will be seeking to retain the regional trophy.

The pressure is on the men's team to lift the CECAFA trophy as the women's team lifted the regional trophy two weeks ago after beating the Kilimanjaro Queens of Tanzania in the final.

Coach Francis Kimanzi will be depending on local talent in the CECAFA title defence.

Tottenham Hotspurs Victor Wanyama and Kashiwa Reysol's Michael Olunga are not part of the squad in Uganda where the CECAFA Senior Challenge is being staged.

Stars will face Sudan on Tuesday in the next match which is expected to be an easy fixture for the Kenyan side.

Kimanzi knows just how important retaining the trophy will be in terms of boosting the players psychologically as they seek to feature in the next edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

"We have a chance of defending our title. We will, of course, be under pressure but that is the nature of football,” Kimanzi said before the game as quoted by the Standard.