KIGALI – Uganda Crested Cranes head coach, Faridah Bulega has come out and expressed her delight after her team won their opening game at the 2018 CECAFA Women’s Championship.
The Crested Cranes defeated Kenya 1-0 courtesy of a Lillian Mutuuzo 7th minute strike in the opening game at the ongoing tournament in Rwanda.
Speaking to the press after the game, Bulega could not hide her disbelief that her side had won the game.
“Am very happy with my team for this win, said Bulega.
“There is nothing like a bad win and we are all so happy to defeat Kenya.
” Who are we, who am i in this 2018 to defeat Kenya.
“Am happy with my team, technical stuff and the girls for what we have managed to achieve.
” We know that we still have a long way to go so we need your prayers so that we can win our next games and probably win the tournament.
“What i can promise is that we will try our level best to try to win the tournament.
The win felt more like revenge for Bulega, whose side fell to Kenya 1-0 on aggregate in the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers last April.
They also lost 4-0 to the same side (Kenya) in the opening game of the 2016 CECAFA Women’s championships that were held in Jinja-Uganda.
The Uganda Crested Cranes will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Ethiopia at the Stade de Kigali.
The round robin tournament will then see Uganda take on Tanzania on Monday and then Rwanda next Wednesday.
In the other game played on Thursday, Alice Kalimba scored the only goal of the game as hosts Rwanda defeated Tanzania 1-0 at the same venue.
The striker who plays for AS Kigali scored the all-important goal on 34 minutes.
Crested Cranes starting XI vs Kenya on Thursday.
Ruth Aturo (GK), Viola Namuddu, Grace Aluka, Shadia Nankya, Yudaya Nakayenze, Tracy Jones Akiror (Capt), Lilian Mutuuzo, Phiona Nabbumba, Ziana Namuleme, Juliet Nalukenge, Norah Alupo.
The remaining Fixtures of the 2018 CECAFA Women’s Championships:
*Friday, July 20: Rest Day
Saturday, July 21
-Ethiopia vs. Uganda – 2:00 pm
-Kenya vs. Tanzania – 5:15 pm
*Sunday, July 22: Rest Day
Monday, July 23
-Uganda vs. Tanzania – 3:00 pm
-Rwanda vs. Ethiopia – 5:15 pm
*Tuesday, July 24: Rest Day
Wednesday, July 25
-Kenya vs. Ethiopia – 3:00 pm
-Uganda vs. Rwanda – 5:15 pm
*Thursday, July 26: Rest Day
Friday, July 27
-Ethiopia vs. Tanzania – 3:00 pm
Rwanda vs. Kenya 5:15 pm
