Troubled CECAFA Cup to go ahead

Jun 17, 2013

THE CECAFA Club Cup championships will go ahead as planned in Sudan early next week despite concern over the state of security

THE CECAFA Club Cup championships will go ahead as planned in Sudan on Tuesday despite concern over the state of security following the killing of a UN soldier in a renewed shelling in South Kordofan on Friday, officials said.

Releasing the fixtures which were made available in Nairobi, Cecafa general secretary Nicholas Musonye said the opening match will be staged in the troubled South Kordofan state capital of Kadugli on Tuesday between local side El Hilal and Uganda Revenue Authority.

The former Uganda club champions are one of the three teams which have been drafted as a late replacement for the Kenyan and Tanzanian teams which pulled out of the championships over safety concerns last week.

Musonye ruled out the re-admission of the three Tanzanian clubs, including cup holders Yanga to take part in the championships after their government reversed an earlier decision to allow the teams to travel to Sudan.

"That chapter is complete and the door is closed," said Musonye, adding: "The tournament will go on without teams from Kenya, Zanzibar and Tanzania."

"Nothing is going to stop or hinder CECAFA from staging this event as all the 11 participants are scheduled to arrive in Khartoum on Saturday. The teams and officials will be transported by chartered flights to Kadugli and El Fasher on Sunday," he added.

The finals of the championships, held annually between the champion clubs of CECAFA, will be played on July 1 in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

AFP

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