Kimera stars as Kampala win Chenga Challenge
Kampala’s Central team members celebrate after winning the City Tyres Chenga Challenge Championship 2014 on Saturday. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA.
MASAKA
One of the most lasting memories at the now dilapidated Masaka Recreational Grounds is the four goal salvo Magid Musisi had for SC Villa en route thrashing KCC 5-0 in a 1992 league encounter.
For the thousand or so fans that attended Saturday’s final day of the Chenga Challenge finals however, the most lasting impression about the second edition of the revamped under-14 tournament will be about Kenneth Kimera.
The 13-year-old Gayaza Church of Uganda Primary School pupil saved four post- match spot kicks to help Kampala region beat Kids of Arua 3-0 after a goalless draw in regulation time.
Kimera, a centre forward who scored one goal and got four assists, was preferred in goal for the penalty shoot out.
Earlier, Kimera had also saved another post match penalty to help his side progress 4-3 past Hoima in the semifinal. His heroics earned him MVP award and one year scholarship from sponsors City Tyres while his team earned a Shs.5m cash prize.
There was drama, however, in the final after the organisers FOF stopped Arua striker Taban Wijo from featuring in the final with the player having been ejected in the Arua qualifiers and group stage games earlier. “This tournament focuses on players who have not played at a national tournament before yet this boy featured in the Under-17 Airtel Rising tournament,” said Eddie Butindo one of the organisers.
The best 18 players were selected from the tournament scheduled for a trip to Rwanda in December courtesy of City Tyres.
