Tanzania confirmed as host of Cecafa inter clubs tournament.
Cecafa Secretary General, Nicholas Musonye, who is currently in Burundi where the Cecafa Under-17 tournament is taking place, confirmed the news of the return of the tournament which failed to take place for two consecutive years, mentioning Tanzania as this year’s tournament hosts.
However, when Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Information and Communications Officer, Clifford Ndimbo was reached for comments on the issue, he could not deny the possibility for the country to host the tournament. Ndimbo said he was currently not informed about the matter by his superiors but promised to divulge official information as soon as he receives details from his bosses.
“What I understand is that TFF has been in discussion with Cecafa about the matter and the discussions were going on well and they were some few matters to be finalised that is what I know so far,” he disclosed.
On his side Musonye unveiled that all the 12 teams have confirmed participation with Tanzania as the host nation will be represented by three teams, which are the tournament defending champions Azam FC, Young Africans and the hosts team Simba.
While from Uganda are, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), who are in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, whereas Rayon Sports will be Rwanda representatives.
Others are St George (Ethiopia), Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia (Kenya) and Lydia B Academica will be Burundi envoys in the tournament. Azam were crowned champions for the first time after a 2-0 victory over Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the final held at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam in 2015.
The tournament which was named after Rwanda President Paul Kagame, who offered to sponsor it will also have representatives from Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan and Zanzibar. However Azam Media group will sponsor the tournament at a yet to be decided fee and all the matches will be live on Azam TV.
The TV station will be the official broadcast partner and has TV rights deal that also include the Senior Challenge Cup. For the first time in years the tournament will have five clubs who are in the group stages of the CAF Champions league and Confederations Cup respectively, the clubs are KCCA, Gor Mahia, Al Hilal, Rayon Sports and Young Africans.
CECAFA is made up of 11 members ten of whom are federations recognized by FIFA; Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Burundi, Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya, Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland.
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