Mwalala Bags Hat-Trick As Uganda's Villa Drub Elman

April 26, 2005

Angetile Osiah
Mwanza

Uganda's champions Sports Club Villa drubbed Somalia's Elman 5-0 in a one-sided Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations' club championship match at the CCM Kirumba Stadium, Mwanza yesterday.

Villa completely outplayed the Somali side that earlier had three of their dependable players expelled from the tournament for indiscipline.

Kenyan international Bernard Mwalala scored a hat-trick before youthful Samaz Mutumba and Robert Sentongo added one goal each to complete the rout on the Somalia side.

Mwalala now leads the scorers chart with four goals to his credit.

Today, Kenya's representatives in the tournament Ulinzi Stars will take on Ethiopia's Awassa in a Group 'B' match that the army side must win to enhance chances of qualifying for the semi finals. Ulinzi beat Zanzibars KMKM 1-0 on Sunday, courtesy of a Geroge Otieno 24th minute goal.

Somali soccer champions Elman yesterday threatened to pull out of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations' club championship in protest over the expulsion of their three players.

They felt the Cecafa decision to expel the players for indiscipline was contradictory. However, Elman agreed to stay on after the regional soccer body clarified their decision on the three players. Cecafa secretary general, Nicholas Musonye told journalists on Sunday that the players "shoud go back to Mogadishu as soon as possible" after assaulting and insulting officials during the tournament's opening match against Burundi champions Atletico Olympique.

The Elman players assulted referee Alfred Baijuka after the final whistle protesting against Atletico's third goal scored by Francois Ndikumana, claiming the scorer was in an offside position.

Debutants Atletico won the match 3-2.

Striker Mohamed Nur Sharker was given marching orders after the Tanzanian referee allowed the decisive goal scored in the injury time. Nur together with Omar Osman and Abdi Isaack were subsequently expelled by Cecafa.

- Additional reporting by Stephen Ouma