Kagame Cup: Strengths and weaknesses of teams thus far

Dar es Salaam. With the 2015 Cecafa Kagame Cup group stage in full swing through the first week, there have already been a few squads that have stood out from the rest in their respective matches.

Through the first nine days of the tournament, some teams, including Zanzibar’s KMKM and Telecom FC of Djibouti, have already been sent packing, while Young Africans and Gor Mahia of Kenya are among the sides that are through to the quarter finals.

No one can deny that the group stage matches of this year’s championship were exciting as all 13 participating teams played their hearts out to the delight of their supporters.

The last days have been really nice for soccer enthusiasts, particularly those who chanced to witness the matches at the National Stadium and Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

As the Cecafa secretary general, Nicholas Musonye, noted the other day, to have this year’s Cecafa Club Championship in Dar es Salaam is something special not only to Tanzania but to the entire region.

The Cecafa region organises more competitions than any other on the continent. It is something we must be very proud of. But we need more than that.

The Cecafa Kagame Cup is the oldest regional club championship in Africa, but it is not where the organisers- -the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) -- would like it to be.

Cecafa has failed miserably to meet its set goals and ambitions to, among other things, transform this part of the world into the region whose teams can shine in the high-profile club competitions such as CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

Unfortunately, national soccer teams form this region have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals. They also rarely compete in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

For teams that have sailed through, their final group stage matches were perhaps each coach’s last chance to trial adjustments ahead of the next stage. As the quarter-finals loom, we take a look at each team’s strengths and weaknesses:

Young Africans

Mainland champions Young Africans are the team to beat in the race for this year’s Cecafa Kagame Cup crown - in many ways.

Their scintillating show in the 2014/15 Vodacom Premier League, is the astounding record that the 2012 Cecafa Kagame Cup champions can boast in this year’s regional tournament.

The five-time Cecafa Kagame Cup winners’ convincing wins in their last two Group A matches back up the notion, shared by fans and pundits alike, of ruthless Yanga efficiency.

They rarely win their opening match. But when it comes to the crunch, this is a team that knows exactly what it takes to steal the show.

In their first match, they went down 2-1 to Gor Mahia, but this did not derail their spirits. And most local fans believe Hans Van Pluijm’s men will capitalize on the home ground advantage to regain the regional title they last won in 2012.

Their strengths

They are a well-organized outfit, and head coach Hans Van Pluijm and his assistants Charles Boniface Mkwasa and Juma Pondamali believe there is a formidable squad.

Mkwasa, fondly referred to as “Master,” doubles as the national senior soccer team, Taifa Stars, head coach, is one of the highly respected tacticians in the country, while Pondamali, popularly known as “‘Mensah,” is one the best goalkeepers of his generation.

To ensure they shine in both domestic and international clubs competitions, Yanga have roped in a host of new players.

Their weaknesses

Shaky defence. Poor set-piece defending was one of the major factors behind their 2-1 defeat to Gor Mahia in their opening match.

They are lacking leadership in defence and have communication problems. The problems at their defence have been one of the major causes of complaint from fans.

Yanga defenders Nadir “Cannavaro” and Burundian Mbuyu Twite were heavily criticised after failing to mount a serious challenge as Michael Olunga cleverly beat them to score the match-winner for Gor Mahia on July 18.

Azam FC-Tanzania Mainland

Before the kickoff Kagame, the Ice Cream makers made some transfers to boost their squad for the upcoming fixtures.

Strengths

Good team chemistry with experienced and versatile footballers like Serge Wawa, Himid Mao, Kipre Tchetche, Shomari Kapombe, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza and team captain John Bocco ‘Adebayor’

Weakness

Although the side secured consecutive winning in the tournament, they failed to provide impressive performance for the previous matches in group stage.

Al Ahyl Shandy-Sudan

Strengths

Despite of having huge number of young and inexperienced players, the Sudanese had a stock of playemakers who suit enough to their passing game approach as shown during the opening match against APR and those who came next.

Weakness

Lack of matured strikers that can use effectively the chances created by their attacking midfielders.

Al Khartoum-Sudan

Another Sudan representatives coached by former Ghanaian international, Kwesi Appiah. Khartom based club is one among the richest teams participated in the competition.

Strength

Disciplined solid and well organized defenders who do not expose the gap to the opponents that can cause damage to their goalkeeper.

Weaknesses

Al Khartoum though have physical ability of playing aerial balls the character that managed them to be solid in their defensing line, they have a problem of poor run in the final third of their opponent and also their attackers are too slow to cut across opponent’s back four, the problem that kwesi appiah is required to work on it before the start of quarter final stage of the tournament respectively.

Also central midfielder Anthony akumu has the main problem of pushing team forward as he mostly concentrated much playing in a deep position

Malakia-South Sudan

Strength

With interesting commanding and ability to make impressive saves, Malakia’s goalie becomes the key man to his side’s solid defense as witnessed in several matches they played in group C

Weakness

Lack of creativity towards the ball,poor passing and lacking of pace and preference to use aerial balls making the side to be the most unimpressive club to watch in the whole competition

KMKM-Zanzibar

Strengths

The 2013/2014 Island’s champions have a group of young and promised footballers who shown impressive performance for their passing game and ball possession skills diffused to them by the former Zanzibar and Taifa Stars coach Ally Bushiry.

Though tested early exit from group A comprising the likes of Yanga, El Khartoum, Telecom and Gor Mahia, KMKM brought some excited moments to football fans during their existence in the tournament.

Weaknesses

The main problem of Bushiry’s boys is lacking pace, physicality of players and enough energy to play the whole minutes of the game.

Another weakness of the Island’s representatives is poor and disorganization of defence line, creating chances of conceding couple of goals.

Gor Mahia-Kenya

The Kenyan giants under Scottish tactician provides wonderfully display since the kick off the tournament with consecutive impressing performance against Young Africans and KMKM.

Strength

Solid and disciplined defence with the leadership of Kenyan goalie Boniface Oluoch who currently linked with the move to Msimbazi Reds, Simba SC. Nutal has managed to create good team balance from the defencing department to attacking enjoying superb scoring form under leading top scorer of the Tournament, Michael Olunga.

Weakness

Nutal prefers most Defensive approach that at certain point limits Gor from creating many chances of scoring despite of having huge number of attack minded players within their squad.

LLB-Burundi

Strength

The side has stock of versatile midfielders with exciting ball possession, well-disciplined and tactical players with energetic and physicality body structure.

Weakness

Lacking prolific players in the attacking zone that lead to the poor scoring record despite abundant chances of scoring created from the midfielders.

KCCA-Uganda

Strength

Ugandans under Mike Mutebi, managed to provide exciting performance in group C with a lot of creativity from gifted players like Tom Masiko,Kavuma Habib, Wasswa Hassan Dazo and Mutyaaba Muzamiru,

Having a strong technical bench with former Ugandan internationals, Sam Ssimbwa, Kaddu Badru Mukasa, Luyinda John made the Ugandan outfits to have a special look from other clubs participated in the tournament.

Weakness

Mutebi’s side shares the common problem of poor scoring form to the striking department despite a lot of chances created per match.

Such a problem can be witnessed in the defeat from Azam in the opening match of group C.