Harambee Stars players[photo/ebru.co.ke]
With battle royale looming in the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup Championships which kicks off this weekend in Kenya, pundits aver that multiple champions Uganda Cranes who are the cup holders and home team Harambee Stars are some of the teams to watch.
That Cranes’ case is self-explanatory goes without saying for the simple reason that they are the most successful of the teams playing in the annual tournament held under the aegis of Cecafa with 15 titles to their name. Uganda first won the title in 1973 and then went to add another 12 in 1976, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 20003, 2008, 20009, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Cranes last savored the silverware in Ethiopia in 2015 where Ceasar Okhuti’s strike helped them edge out Rwanda 1-0 in the final. For Harambee Stars, who have lived in the shadows of Uganda in the championships, a home ground advantage will be key to laying claim to the title under new Belgian coach Paul Put.
Stars did it in 2013 which the last time they tasted success at the regional championships, thanks to a 2-0 win over Sudan in the final, and would wish to make a repeat under a stiff challenge from eight other competitors after.
Zimbabwe pulled out Besides Harambee Stars and Cranes, other participating teams include Intamba Murugamba (Burundi), Amavubi (Rwanda), Bright Stars (South Sudan), Kilimanjaro Stars (Tanzania), Zanzibar Heroes, Walya Antelopes (Ethiopia) and guests Mediterranean Knights (Libya).
The matches will be spread out at Kakamega’s Bukhungu Stadium, Kenyatta in Machakos with Mumias Complex, Moi Stadium in Kisumu and Safaricom Kasarani Stadium being picked as alternative venues. Since Cranes and Kenya last lifted the crown, a lot of water has passed under the bridge and both teams are now predominantly weaved around new players, making it all more of both squads to be unknown quantities.