Stars toast to glory after Cecafa final for the ages

Kenya had to go the long route to finally shake off a Zanzibar side that simply wouldn’t say die as they won 3-2 on post-match penalties to clinch a seventh Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

The Harambee Stars conceded twice from winning positions in a nerve-racking final at the Kenyatta Stadium in Maschakos, including an 89th minute leveller that forced the match to go the full length of extra time.

Ovella Ochieng’s opener in the sixth minute from a free-kick had given the hosts the start they would have dreamt of but Zanzibar pulled one back to silence cries for the final whistle from the home support.

Substitute Masoud Juma, who was had only just recovered from injury, restored Kenya’s lead in the 97th minute and hardly had the celebrations died down than Khamis Musa Makame made it 2-2.

Zanzibar Heroes, for all their nagging fightback, lacked enough nerve as Kenya edged the penalty shootout 3-2.

Patrick Matasi was the hero of the match, punching out three of Zanzibar’s post match penalties to ensure Stars’ seventh Cecafa title.
Only Duncan Otieno missed his among the four Kenyan penalty takers, Joakins Atudo, Wesley Onguso and Samuel Onyango scoring.

Posta  Rangers one

Notably, Zanzibar was the only side that was able to find the net against Kenya, since the start of the 39th edition of Cecafa. Matasi, who won the Most Valuable Player accolade and consequently the goalkeeper of the tournament, was unable to stop the Islanders only two minutes to time, and would have finished the tournament ‘clean’.
As soon as the ‘Posta Rangers one’ palmed out Zanzibar’s last kick, a deafening cheer from Kenyan fans who thronged the stadium to full capacity engulfed the atmosphere, all singing in praise of the custodian who clocked full time in all the matches.

Deputy President William Ruto led the jubilant crowd in celebrations, flanked by Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr. Hassan Wario who after long absence from public events appeared for the grand finale.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa could not help hugging the players emotionally as they stormed the pitch for the short awarding ceremony, which underscored the biggest achievement of Harambee Stars under his tenure.

The match started on high tempo, Kenya’s first serious attempt paying dividends. Ochieng stood behind the ball alongside his Kariobangi Sharks counterpart Patillah Omoto, and after a some consultation, the former was left to execute sending a screamer to the roof of the net for the opener.

Zanzibar was highly disadvantaged by early withdraw of midfield maestro Abdul Aziz Makame, who limped off after colliding with Otieno.

All push and pull of both stanza’s was summed up with the late equaliser, Kenya regretting retreating behind to defend the lone goal.
Coach Paul Put had rested the goal scorer Ochieng for Earnest Wendo, seeking to tighten the midfield but the effort proved futile. For the second scorer, Juma, Nakumatt FC’s Kepha Aswani had limped off forcing his introduction while George Odhiambo had paved way for Onyango.

Put repeated the 2013 fate when his fellow Belgian Adel Amrouche guided Stars to their sixth Cecafa title at home