Kenya  started their Cecafa Senior Challenge  cup title defence on a
sound footing after drubbing their perennial arch rivals  Uganda
Cranes 2-0 in their opening match played at the Addis Ababa Stadium in
Ethiopia on Sunday.

The Kenyans  coming  up to the event after  a bungled Cape Verde
trip were dominant for long periods of the opening half with their
front runners  led by.

Eric Johana, Clifton Miheso , Jacob Keli ,Jesse Were and Michael Olunga  showing great sparks upfront.

The Kenyans took the lead through striker Jacob Keli in the 29th minute.The diminutive attacker, who plays for Zambian side Nkana FC, was fed in by Johanna Eric Omollo and reacted quickest to connect home.

Five minutes after restart, Gor Mahia striker Michael Olunga, on as a
substitute, struck with his second touch of the game to double the Harambee Stars’ lead.

Both sides had clear-cut opportunities to build the scoreline in the second half, but The Cranes skipper Miya Farouk fluffed a chance late on as did Kenya’s substitute Allan Wanga.

Kenya head coach  Bobby Williamson kept faith with his local players
by drafting in Mathare United skipper and defender Noah Abich in the
starting lineup long  along with Ulinzi Stars  upcoming defender Omar
Mbongi .

Speaking after the match, Williamson said  despite the many side shows that affected his preparations  ahead of the match, they will try  to push  and defend  for the title.

His  Uganda  counterpart  Milutin ‘Micho’Sredojevic said they were
bitter  with the loss  adding that they  will go  back to  the drawing
board  and analyse where they went wrong.

He admitted that Kenya  were
a better side  considering 80 per cent of his  players  are youthful mostly those  drawn from the Under 23  side.

Uganda, the most successful nation in the Cup, is in Group B with holders Kenya, Burundi and Zanzibar.

In earlier matches, hosts Ethiopia lost with a  solitary goal to Rwanda  while  Tanzania demolished Somalia  4-0

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com