By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,

Member nations of the Confederation of East and Central Africa (Cecafa) started their campaigns to Africa’s biggest showpiece with promising results as the journey to the Africa Cup of Nations began across the continent.

Uganda Cranes led from the front, with a well-deserved victory over Botswana in Kampala. Rwanda triumphed away, Ethiopia won in Addis while Kenya got a point in Congo.

TROUBLED PAST

Goals by Godfrey Massa and Brian Umony were enough to put the Cranes firmly in control of their destiny. Their past campaigns, reminiscent of this, have started well, only for them to falter in the latter stages. Whether they overcome their troubled past this term only time is the master.

Kenya went to Congo Brazzaville on the backdrop of a stalemate in Ndola, Zambia missing a late penalty to share the spoils with gritty Guinea Bissau. They could not have hoped for a better start, winger Paul Were putting them in the lead early on with a fine solo effort.

However, their centre could not hold and captain Prince Oniangue pulled the hosts level from the spot ten minutes before the break. Harambee Stars held on to claim a priceless point that will spur them on ahead of their next fixture at home against former African champions Zambia.

Rwanda’s Amavubi flew into Maputo and snatched maximum points to signal their early intent.

GAME PLAN

East Africa has for long suffered massive heartache and failed to send teams to the continent’s biggest bonanza. Often times our game plan has been wanting. Visiting teams must feel the heat whenever they venture out of their frontiers. With a proper plan, at least two from this part of the world should this time round grace the big stage.