GTV extends sh780m for CECAFA event

Jun 19, 2008

SATELLITE broadcaster GTV has announced a $.5m (sh785m) sponsorship for the regional CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup soccer tournament due in Kampala November 8-23.

By Swalley Kenyi

SATELLITE broadcaster GTV has announced a $.5m (sh785m) sponsorship for the regional CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup soccer tournament due in Kampala November 8-23.

The pay television’s project manager Mark Wilkin, flanked by country manager Daniel Kagwe announced the package at a joint press conference at FUFA House yesterday.

A meeting that involved the hosts FUFA, GTV and CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye before unveiling the package, agreed that the bulk of the sponsorship caters for the organisation of the tournament.

The prize money has remained at $60,000 (sh95m) with the introduction of fair play, most promising player, best goalkeeper and top scorer among other awards. The winner will receive $30,000 (sh47.5m), the runner-up team takes $20000 and $10,000 for the third finisher.

The 11-member countries forming CECAFA are Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zanzibar, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti and the hosts Uganda.

Matches will be staged at Namboole and Nakivubo stadiums. The opening game and starting with the quarter-finals, matches will be televised live.

Wilkin said that his company would stage a better competition than last year’s in Dar-es-Salaam because they now have ample time to prepare.

In order to increase competition at the regional event, Musonye said that CECAFA was considering to invite a Middle East country to compete as a guest team.

“We have a chance to showcase what Uganda and Kampala have. Unlike last year when we had limited time in Tanzania, it is a golden chance for us to sell Uganda to the world,” Kagwe promised.

Musonye is optimistic that this year’s event will be more successful than the previous editions because FUFA is more organised than their counterparts in the region.

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