NAIROBI, Kenya, December 7- Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic, has urged Harambee Stars not to underrate the Amavumbi Stars of Rwanda, ahead of their GOtv Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup quarter final crunch on Saturday at Mombasa Municipal Stadium.
“Cecafa is a competition where no one can predict any team, Rwanda played very well against Uganda and Sudan, and it’s only that luck was not on their side.
“Kenya really need to give the Amavubi Stars respect, because they are a very good team, bearing in mind they came to this tournament having the full squad that participated in African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers, but the rest of us we have brought development squads,” the former Amavumbi tactician urged.
Defending champions Uganda Cranes plays Kilamanjaro Stars of Tanzania in a mouth watering clash, before the hosts welcome Rwanda in the second quarter final.
Head coach Adel Amrouche is expected to field his strongest players against the Amavumbi Stars, despite the fact that the latter only won one match against Eritrea to qualify to the last-eight as second best losers.
Kenya will depend on their top form forwards, KCB’s Jacob Keli, AFC Leopards duo Noah Wafula and Alan Wanga for goals while Peter Opiyo, Thika United’s Francia Kahata and Gor Mahia’s Teddy Akumu are expected to dominate the midfield.
Last year, Rwanda exited in the quarters after losing 1-0 to Tanzania and coach Erick Nshimiyamana said his charges will do better this year.
The two sides have met nine times in the regional showpiece, with both teams winning four times and drawing one.
In Sunday’s fixtures, the Chipolopolo of Zambia plays the Swallows of Burundi while the Walia Antelopes entertains Sudan at Mombasa Municipal Stadium.
Meanwhile, Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, has confirmed Kisumu County will not host the scheduled semifinal matches.
“It will be impossible for the lake side City to host Cecafa semis because after touring the Kenyatta Stadium which is undergoing renovation, we found out that it will not be finished in time.
“After a day long inspection, we have come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to stage matches in Kisumu,” Musonye who said the stadium will take two months to be completed, confirmed on Friday.
Local Organising Committee is yet to decide the venue for semi finals.
