By Norman Katende and agencies

Cecafa tournament
Nov 24 to Dec 11

African giants Cameroon are the most prominent of the three guest teams being considered for the CECAFA Tusker Senior Challenge Cup due at Namboole later this month.

The regional tournament’s organising body always invites guest teams outside the region to participate in the annual tournament.

Cameroon failed to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and intend to use the tournament to rebuild their team.

The West Africans will however await for a descision from the technical committee meeting that will choose between them, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

“Zambia are out because CAF rules do not allow countries that have qualified for the continental event to participate in such tournaments. Only Ethiopia, who are the only country in the region that is heading to the CAN 2013 Finals will be competing since they are from this region,” FUFA spokesman Rogers Mulindwa stated.

Somalia plan to arrive early

Somalia have revealed they will arrive in Uganda on November 8 to allow time for 15 training days before the start of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup (Cecafa Cup).

Instability in Somalia has left the team without training facilities in their country.

Somali Football Federation Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said: “The old soccer stadium is under construction by Fifa and the national facility the ‘Stadium Mogadishu’ is home to AU troops in Somalia.

“For those reasons we have to camp the team in Kampala.”

The team’s early arrival for the tournament, which kicks off on November 24, also affords them the opportunity to acclimatise to different conditions in Kampala.