TODAY AT 3 p.m
URA v Tusker

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Football Club are today aiming to emulate compatriots Police FC and SC Villa by winning the Cecafa Kagame Cup on Tanzanian soil.

The tax collectors face Kenya’s Tusker in the final tonight. Tusker coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee is predicting a tough final. “Sincerely speaking, I never wanted to meet a Ugandan side at any stage of this tournament. Uganda and Kenya are rivals and the same time good friends. So I expect a very competitive and good final,” Mulee said in a post match interview after his side beat home side Yanga in the second semifinal.

He has a reason to be worried. As APR coach in 2005, he was on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of SC Villa.
“Since that humiliating defeat, I started giving Ugandan sides a lot of respect because they play well. They are fast, strong and very determined,” he said.
Tusker have won the competition on three occasions while URA are aiming for their maiden trophy.

URA coach Moses Basena rates Tusker highly but is optimistic about his team’s chances. “Tusker is a much more improved and very organized side. They are slow behind and don’t allow teams to run behind them but we shall force them reverse their style of play because there is no way we can not attack,” Basena said.

Basena are to welcome back midfielder Tony Mawejje from suspension. Mawejje got a red card in the quarterfinals and was not part of the squad that humiliated home side Simba 1-0 in the semifinals.

“Mawejje’s return will obviously add verve to our game because he is attack minded. He is an inspirational player,” said Basena. The former KCC coach is happy with the team’s form thus far.

“This is a very good squad capable of winning the title. If the boys can maintain the impressive standard displayed enroute to the finals, then nothing will hinder our achievement,” Basena said.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has for the last few years staked $60,000 in prize money for the top three teams at the annual regional tournament.
The winning team is to pocket $30,000 or Shs48m, while the runners up are to collect $20,000.

The winner of today’s losers’ final between local rivals Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba is to collect $10,000 or Shs16m.

Probable Line up: Abel Dhaira, Sam Mubiru, Dan Kyobe, Musa Doca, Joseph Owino, Tony Mawejje, Manko Kaweesa, Johnson Bagoole, Dan Wagaluka, Ismail Kigozi and Robert Okello.

Past winners
1974 Simba (Tanzania)
1975 Yanga (Tanzania)
1976 Luo Union (Kenya)
1977 Luo Union (Kenya)
1978 KCC (Uganda)
1979 Abaluhya (Kenya)
1980 Gor Mahia (Kenya)
1981 Gor Mahia (Kenya)
1982 AFC Leopards (Kenya)
1983 AFC Leopards (Kenya)
1984 AFC Leopards (Kenya)
1985 Gor Mahia (Kenya)
1986 Merreikh (Sudan)
1987 SC Villa (Uganda)
1988 Breweries (Kenya)
1989 Tusker (Kenya)
1990 Not Held
1991 Simba (Tanzania)
1992 Simba (Tanzania)
1993 Yanga (Tanzania)
1994 Merreikh (Sudan) 1995 Simba (Tanzania)
1996 Simba (Tanzania)
1997 AFC Leopards (Kenya)
1998 Rayon Sport (Rwanda)
1999 Yanga (Tanzania)
2000 Tusker (Kenya)
2001 Tusker (Kenya)
2002 Simba (Tanzania)
2003 SC Villa (Uganda)
2004 APR (Rwanda)
2005 SC Villa (Uganda)
2006 Police FC (Uanda)
2007 APR (Rwanda)
2008 ???