Uganda's Police qualify for Cecafa semi-finals, champs Villa ejected

Uganda's Police FC have qualified for the semi-finals of the regional Council for East and central African Football Associations (Cecafa)/Kagame Club Championship Cup currently going on in Tanzania.

The Police boys made their qualifications after a 1-0 win over home side Yanga FC on Tuesday. Peter Ssenyonjo scored the sole important goal for Police in the 75th minute with a rebound after his first shot was parried back by Yanga goalkeeper Ivo Mapunda.

However, there was tear gas in the pitch after the final whistle as frenetic Yanga fans threw stones and bottles only for riot police to hit back with tear gas bullets.

The defending champions SC Villa, also from Uganda, were unluckily knocked out in the earlier match on Tuesday by Kenya's Ulinzi who would face Police in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

Villa fought back to level 1-1 through Oscar Kadenge, but lost 3-1 on penalties. Only Ssamaddu Mutumba converted his penalty for Villa, while skipper Stepehn Nsereko, Mike Ssebalinga and Steven Bengo all missed.

The other quarter-final ties will take place on Wednesday with favorites APR from Rwanda taking on Ethiopia's St. George and Moro United battling Simba FC in an all Tanzanian affair.

The winner of the tournament that ends on May 28 will smile away with 30,000 U.S. dollars, the runner-up 20,000 dollars and the third placed 10,000 dollars, granted by Paul Kagame, the Rwandan President and zealous football fan.

Source: Xinhua