CECAFA: Bobby not worried by ''Group of Death''

By James Bakama and Swalley Kenyi

Group A

Uganda, Ethiopia,

Kenya,South Sudan

Group B

Sudan, Tanzania,

Burundi, Somalia

Group C

Rwanda, Malawi,

Zanzibar, Eritrea

Coach Bobby Williamson is not shaken by the fact that Uganda is in the ‘group of death’ in the CECAFA Tusker Challenge Cup that kicks-off next week.

Uganda is in the same group with five time winners Kenya and Ethiopia, who are using the tournament as an African Cup of Nations build-up.

“We remain the top team. True, Ethiopia beat Sudan to qualify for the continental finals but remember we beat the African champions Zambia,” said a confident Williamson.

The Scot will be going for his fourth CECAFA title. He led the Cranes to the championship in 2008 shortly after replacing Laszlo Csaba. He repeated the feat in 2009 and last year.

Kenya Premier League top scorer (17 goals) Daniel “Muzee” Serunkuma will be among the players Williamson will be banking on for goals.

There were doubts last week whether the Gor Mahia striker Sserunkuma would be available. But Cranes media officer Fred Katende confirmed yesterday that Serunkuma would be here on Monday.

The two top teams in each group, together with the two best third-placed sides will advance to the December 3-5 quarterfinals.

At a function to release the fixtures at Serena Hotel on Monday, local organizing committee chairman Moses Magogo said tickets go on sale on Wednesday. Entry to the open stands is sh5000 and sh20000 to the pavilion.

Somalia is already here but the rest of the teams start arriving next week.

The 15 day East African Breweries sponsored tournament will be at Namboole save for the last four group games that will include Nakivubo as a second venue.

Kick-off of the first two of these games will be at 2pm at both stadia just like the second matches 4pm. This is to avoid match fixing.

The tournament will be preceded by a CECAFA congress on November 23 at Serena Hotel.

EABL Corporate Affairs Manager Richard Wabwire said besides having a successful tournament, the sponsors want to see the regional competition as the launch pad for Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying campaigns.

CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye has appealed to Ugandans to emulate the 2008 edition in Kampala when the tournament was a big success.