Ten clubs set for Cecafa

Dec 19, 2000

TEN clubs have confirmed participation in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) championship from January 20-February 3, 2001 in Nairobi and Mombasa.

By Peter Ekarot TEN clubs have confirmed participation in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) championship from January 20-February 3, 2001 in Nairobi and Mombasa. CECAFA executive officer Nicholas Musonye told The New Vision on phone from Nairobi yesterday that the competition is set and sponsors are making inquiries to fund the two-week bonanza. "So far we have ten clubs that have confirmed and draws will be out soon," Musonye said. Teams that have confirmed their participation are Ugandan champions SC Villa, defending champions Tusker and Oserian (both Kenya), Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Vital'O (Burundi), El Merreikh (Sudan), St. George (Ethiopia), Red Sea (Eritrea), National Police Force-FNP (Djibouti), and Elman (Somalia) are the teams . THE Cranes could not start serious training in preparation of the Africa Cup Nations against Senegal on January 13 because of VEK tournament, reports Leo Kabunga. Coach Harrison Okagbue and his deputy Leo Adraa were very bitter about the untimely tournament that will affect their programme. "VEK is useless as far as the Cranes' training is concerned. The tournament should have been held at the X-mass break," the furious coach said. Okagbue said that while Senegal were currently in serious training in France, FUFA is sanctioning tournaments which affect the national team. "Let me hope that after the VEK, I will not be told there is Idd and whatever tournament," he said. Okagbue said that he will not entertain further obstancles after January 2 otherwise he will resign. "We are interested in qualifying for the 2002 Mali finals instead of focusing on bogus matches for the sake of money for Christmas," Okagbue added. By Leo Kabunga SC VILLA players with the national team, the Cranes will miss out of the Saudi Arabia trip on February 1 because of the CECAFA clubs championship taking place at the same period in Nairobi. Cranes are invited for a series of matches in Saudi Arabia between February 1 to 4 at a time when Nile Special Super league champions SC Villa will be in Nairobi. Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) starts on January 14 up to February 4 in Nairobi. The affected players will be Hakim Magumba, Timothy Batabaire, league top scorer Andrew Mukasa and Hussain Mbalangu. Nigerian tactician Harrison Okagbue yesterday said that although he will be away in his home Enugu State, his deputy Leo Adraa would be able to replace the players with others on the squad. "You should plan ahead without them, unless they return from Nairobi before the team leaves for Saudi Arabia," Okagbue said. Ends

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