Cecafa launches new club tourney
PHOTO | FILE AFC Leopards Kenyan international formward Allan Wanga (left) tussles for the ball with Enocent Mukhabela of SuperSport united during the CAf Confederation Cup match at Nyayo Stadium on March 9, 2014.
What you need to know:
- Secretary-general Musonye confirms all countries in the region have confirmed participation
- The tournament, launched by Cecafa secretary-general Nicholas Musonye at Nyayo Stadium on Thursday, will involve domestic cup winners from the 12 Cecafa member countries in the region.
The Council of East and Central African Football Association (Cecafa) on Thursday launched a regional tournament known as Nile Basin Winners’ Cup.
The tournament, launched by Cecafa secretary-general Nicholas Musonye at Nyayo Stadium on Thursday, will involve domestic cup winners from the 12 Cecafa member countries in the region.
GOtv Shield champions AFC Leopards will represent Kenya in the first edition of the tournament set for May 20 June 5 in Darfur, Sudan.
CONFIRMED PARTICIPATION
Musonye said all member countries have confirmed participation in the tournament, adding that Cecafa and the Sudan Football Associaton has secured full sponsorship that will cater for air tickets for teams and delegations as well as accommodation, local transport and the prize money.
“We are seeking to improve the performance of our local teams in the region by engaging them in as many high level competitions as possible. That is why we have come up with this tournament.
CECAFA U-23 TOURNEY
Also launched Thursday was the Cecafa Under-23 tournaments which will also take place in Sudan beginning September this year.
“It is a discouraging that all our regional teams were eliminated from the continental competitions. With this tournament, we want to identify a team which we will then nurture in preparation to the upcoming Olympic Games,” Musonye said.
The Cecafa secretary general also announced that Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has pledged Sh5.1m (US dollars 60,000) in cash prize for teams and their delegations who will take part in this year’s Kagame Club Cup.
This year’s competition which brings together league champions from all member countries will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
Musonye also said that Cecafa and the Rwanda football federation are finalizing the details of a sponsorship package that will cater for the expenses. Ethiopia is the designated host for this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.
A delegation from Cecafa is set to visit Ethiopia immediately after the World Cup to finalize the arrangements of a sponsorship package that will see Addis Ababa host this tournament from late November.
