Eritrea to host U-20s CECAFA games
Jul 01, 2010
ERITREA will for the first time in almost 20 years host a major event when they stage the CECAFA U-20 Friendship Soccer Championship in Asmara August 14-28.
ERITREA will for the first time in almost 20 years host a major event when they stage the CECAFA U-20 Friendship Soccer Championship in Asmara August 14-28, reports Reuben Olita.
The Eritrea government has committed to staging the event catering for all the expenses including air tickets, full board accommodation, local transport and prize money.
They have already renovated two artificial stadiums in Asmara ready for the championship which provides the country with an opportunity to showcase their organisational skills and self determination.
The teams will be airlifted to Asmara in a charter plane from Nairobi on August 11.
The CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye visited Asmara June 25-29 and held meetings with the Eritrean FA and government officials.
The Eritrean commissioner for sports General Ramadan Osman assured CECAFA that the government commitment is binding and everything will be done to host their first major sporting event in almost 20 years.
Osman informed CECAFA that apart from providing sponsorship, the government will also guarantee prize money to the winning teams.
Nine countries have confirmed participation. They are hosts Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Zanzibar.
The Government will also cover accommodation expenses for one journalist from each of the participating countries.
The United Nations has been engaged to support the event. Their Nairobi and Asmara offices are coordinating a series of activities ranging from peace building, HIV/Aids, United Against Malaria and Gender Promotion.
The Eritrea government has committed to staging the event catering for all the expenses including air tickets, full board accommodation, local transport and prize money.
They have already renovated two artificial stadiums in Asmara ready for the championship which provides the country with an opportunity to showcase their organisational skills and self determination.
The teams will be airlifted to Asmara in a charter plane from Nairobi on August 11.
The CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye visited Asmara June 25-29 and held meetings with the Eritrean FA and government officials.
The Eritrean commissioner for sports General Ramadan Osman assured CECAFA that the government commitment is binding and everything will be done to host their first major sporting event in almost 20 years.
Osman informed CECAFA that apart from providing sponsorship, the government will also guarantee prize money to the winning teams.
Nine countries have confirmed participation. They are hosts Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Zanzibar.
The Government will also cover accommodation expenses for one journalist from each of the participating countries.
The United Nations has been engaged to support the event. Their Nairobi and Asmara offices are coordinating a series of activities ranging from peace building, HIV/Aids, United Against Malaria and Gender Promotion.