Mbeya City striker Paul Nonga vies for the ball with Academie Tchite defender (down) as Felix Themi looks on during their Cecafa Nile Basin Cup group B match on Saturday. City won 3-2.
PHOTO | COURTESY OF CECAFA
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“I have a good feeling that my boys will be spurred by the opening victory and will show what they are capable of tomorrow (today). We are gunning for the points at stake,”said Mwambusi via telephone.
Dar es Salaam. Mbeya City will be one foot into the quarterfinals of the Cecafa Nile Basin Cup if they upset FC Leopards today.
The Mbeya-based outfit, which is making international debut, made a flying start on Saturday after defeating Academie Tchite of Burundi 3-2 in Khartoum.
Kenya’s AFC Leopards, who beat Rwandan top tier side Etincelles 2-0 in the opener, top the four-team Group B with three points, similar to Mbeya City, but the former enjoy a superior goal difference.
A victory for the Juma Mwambusi-coached team today will lift them to the top of the table to all but guarantee their place in the quarterfinal stage. The odds might be stacked against Mbeya City, but Mwambusi is adamant his boys will revel in their role as underdogs.
“Nobody expects us to beat AFC Leopards because we are underdogs. Leopards have a rich pedigree in the regional events.
“I’d rather be the underdog. People are delighted when the underdog wins. However, we have played the likes of Yanga and Simba and walked away with points, so will approach the Leopards the same way we have been approaching big teams.
“I have a good feeling that my boys will be spurred by the opening victory and will show what they are capable of tomorrow (today). We are gunning for the points at stake,”said Mwambusi via telephone.
In the opener, Mbeya City fought from a goal down to edge determined Academie Tchite.
City, who arrived in Khartoum on the eve of the match day, went a goal down in the 10th minute through Rashid Patient but recovered fast from the shock when Nonga Paul headed home an equaliser just five minutes later.
The Mainland representatives were back on target in the 27th minute with yet another header from team captain Mwagane Yeya. Themy Felix put it to 3-1 in the 37th minute to send his side into a comfortable half time break.
The second half saw the Burundians mounting maximum pressure on Mbeya City whose effort yielded a result in the 68th minute when Manirakiza Cedric scored their second goal.
Mbeya City earned the chance to compete in the inaugural tournament after Azam FC and Yanga withdrew.
