Kenya Elite Junior Academy (KEJA) demolished City Lights FC of South Sudan 6-0 in their opening game of the CAF U-17 Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) at the Azam Complex in Tanzania on Wednesday afternoon.The team was hastily assembled to replace Bahir Dar Kenema FC of Ethiopia, who withdrew from the tournament at the last minute. The team was handed over to Kenya U-17 coach Mildred Cheche.##NAJAVA_MECA_8617974##This meant Kenya had two teams in the tournament, with the other being the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), coached by FC Talanta’s head coach Jackline Juma. KAS was thrashed 3-0 by JKT Queens of Tanzania in their opening game on Wednesday.Kenya took the lead in the 8th minute when Sarah Awino found the back of the net, opening the floodgates for what would become a one-sided affair. Awino was, however, forced off in the 27th minute, with Jane Sakwa coming on as her replacement.Eight minutes before halftime, Flavian Katenje doubled Kenya’s lead, and in the 41st minute, substitute Sakwa added a third goal. Just as City Lights thought the first half was over, Joan Ogola, who featured in last year’s U-17 World Cup, made it 4-0 deep into first-half stoppage time.Kimanzi’s tactical masterclass that earned Harambee Stars victory over TanzaniaCity Lights made three changes, including a goalkeeper substitution before the second half in an attempt to stem the flow of goals, but Kenya continued their dominance. The fifth goal came in the 54th minute via an own goal, following pressure from Kenya captain Lorine Ilavonga.The South Sudan keeper pulled off a number of good saves in the second half, denying the Kenyan attackers who were baying for more goals on a number of occasions. She however could not deny Ogola in the 82nd minute who got her second of the game at Kenya’s sixth.In the end, the scoreboard read 6-0. KEJA now leads Group A.Next up for KEJA is a match against JKT Queens on Friday, while the KAS team will face City Lights FC on the same day.Fred Ambani: AFC Leopards will remain inactive in January transfer window
