Malawi, Zambia ‘back’ in CECAFA cup
Nov 09, 2006
ZAMBIA and Malawi will take part in the November 25- December 10 Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia as guests, CECAFA secretary Nicholas Musonye disclosed yesterday.
By Ruben Olita
in Nairobi
ZAMBIA and Malawi will take part in the November 25- December 10 Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia as guests, CECAFA secretary Nicholas Musonye disclosed yesterday.
Musonye, while releasing the fixtures that saw Uganda draw Sudan in their opening game on November 27, said the move to invite the two former CECAFA participants was aimed at spicing up the event to match international standards.
However, Musonye clarified that should one of the two teams win the event they would not take the cup but only US$35,000 prize money, adding that the trophy would instead be given to runners up or third-placed team if both Zambia and Malawi finish among top two.
Malawi have been pitted against defending champions Ethiopia in group A that also includes Tanzania and Djibouti.
Zambia are in group B with Burundi and Zanzibar while group C has Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda and Sudan.
After playing Sudan, Cranes face Rwanda in the second game on November 30 and Somalia December 3 to conclude the preliminary round.
Ethiopia open the 16-day show-case November 25 against Tanzania with Burundi v Zambia and Malawi v Djibouti scheduled for November 26.
The event sponsor Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi has committed US$500,000 to the tournament. This will cover air tickets for all the teams and referees.
The second team will get $20,000, the third and fourth $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
Musonye also announced that CECAFA congress will take place on November 24 to consider reverting the Kagame Clubs Cup to January, the U-17 Youth competition and Vision 2010.
Zambia and Malawi electrified the regional championship in the 80’s before, together with Zimbabwe, ditched the family two decades ago to join Cosafa which incorporates southern African states.
The Zambia Chipolopolo (Bullets) clinched the Cosafa Cup two weeks ago after beating Angola 2-0 in Lusaka .
The top three teams in group A and B and two in group C will qualify for quarter-finals on December 5-6. semi-finals will be held on December 8 with the final on December 10.
Douglas Mazune adds that Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba is focusing on his first match against Sudan than the unfamiliar Malawi and Zambia.
“We want to win the first game against Sudan, then Rwanda and Somalia. Rwanda and Sudan are very strong. They have their full national teams,†Csaba said.
“Let’s first qualify from the group stage and then see whether we will meet Zambia and Malawi. I can’t talk much about them because I don’t have enough data on them.â€
in Nairobi
ZAMBIA and Malawi will take part in the November 25- December 10 Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia as guests, CECAFA secretary Nicholas Musonye disclosed yesterday.
Musonye, while releasing the fixtures that saw Uganda draw Sudan in their opening game on November 27, said the move to invite the two former CECAFA participants was aimed at spicing up the event to match international standards.
However, Musonye clarified that should one of the two teams win the event they would not take the cup but only US$35,000 prize money, adding that the trophy would instead be given to runners up or third-placed team if both Zambia and Malawi finish among top two.
Malawi have been pitted against defending champions Ethiopia in group A that also includes Tanzania and Djibouti.
Zambia are in group B with Burundi and Zanzibar while group C has Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda and Sudan.
After playing Sudan, Cranes face Rwanda in the second game on November 30 and Somalia December 3 to conclude the preliminary round.
Ethiopia open the 16-day show-case November 25 against Tanzania with Burundi v Zambia and Malawi v Djibouti scheduled for November 26.
The event sponsor Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi has committed US$500,000 to the tournament. This will cover air tickets for all the teams and referees.
The second team will get $20,000, the third and fourth $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
Musonye also announced that CECAFA congress will take place on November 24 to consider reverting the Kagame Clubs Cup to January, the U-17 Youth competition and Vision 2010.
Zambia and Malawi electrified the regional championship in the 80’s before, together with Zimbabwe, ditched the family two decades ago to join Cosafa which incorporates southern African states.
The Zambia Chipolopolo (Bullets) clinched the Cosafa Cup two weeks ago after beating Angola 2-0 in Lusaka .
The top three teams in group A and B and two in group C will qualify for quarter-finals on December 5-6. semi-finals will be held on December 8 with the final on December 10.
Douglas Mazune adds that Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba is focusing on his first match against Sudan than the unfamiliar Malawi and Zambia.
“We want to win the first game against Sudan, then Rwanda and Somalia. Rwanda and Sudan are very strong. They have their full national teams,†Csaba said.
“Let’s first qualify from the group stage and then see whether we will meet Zambia and Malawi. I can’t talk much about them because I don’t have enough data on them.â€