Tanzania's Simba SC will enjoy home support when they take on Prince Louis of Burundi, in the final of the 29th Cecafa Cup on Sunday in Zanzibar.

Thousands of Simba's supporters have crossed the sea channel between the capital Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, where they already have many fans.

On Friday night, despite the downpour which transformed the pitch into a mud bath, the more experienced Simba contolled their semi-final game against Zanzibar's Mlandege to win 2-0.

Yusuf Macho scored the openner in the 33rd minute, smashing the ball in the back of the net after a muddy goalmouth scramble.

Over 15,000 spectators packed the Amaan stadium for the encounter.

Simba's Coach disappointed

In the closing minutes, man-of-the-match, midfielder Sheikan Rashid, converted a penalty, killing any local hope of going into extra-time.

Mlandege had Radjab Mzee sent off 15 minutes from time after a scuffle in the Simba box.

Despite the victory Simba's Kenyan coach James Siang'a, was disappointed by his side's performance.

"Of course we won, but not the way we expected", said Siang'a.

"The weather affected my boys who didn't play good football. I like the game to flow, but tonight it was more hit and run. The last time we played in the rain was last year" he said.

"Of course", concluded Siang'a, "we'll win this Cup, there's no doubt about that."

Simba is one of the most established clubs in the East and Central African region.

Formed in the 1920s, they last won the Cecafa Cup in 1996, retaining their title from the previous year.

First final for Burundi

The Tanzania mainland champions will be challenged for the title on Sunday (kick off at 17:30 GMT) by the surprise package Prince Louis of Burundi.

Simba defeated them 2-1 in the group stage of the competition.

Prince Louis also dominated their semi-final game against Uganda's SC Villa, one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Good passing, good spirit and a goal in each half by Gasana Mohamed and Msaba Souleiman gave them a deserved 2-0 win, although they had less shots on target than the Ugandan champions.

Prince Louis's coach Radjab Shaban was ecstatic after the game.

"It's the first time my team has played in the Cecafa Cup, and we have the opportunity to play in the final", he said.

Total focus

It is also the first time a Burundian club has reached the final.

Shaban also told BBC Sport Online "We had prepared this game focusing on the passing. Short passes, long passes, but always trying to go forward on the flanks. That's how we created good chances for ourselves."

Influential Burundian midfielder Pablo Furaha Mwembo said "Villa are strong, but not as strong as we are. In Kigali last December, our national team beat theirs in the Challenge Cup."

While all the teams have checked in a big hotel on the sea front, the Burundians decided to stay in a much less fancy building, very near the Amaan stadium.

"We wanted to see the stadium, not the sea, when we wake up in the morning, so we would focus only on the football", said Mwembo.

It seems to have paid off.