CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup
APR, Gor Mahia, SC Villa all chasing fourth CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup
Twelve teams will tussle it out in the regional CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 slated to take place July 9-21st in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Apart from guest side Red Arrows FC, the Zambia Premier League champions, all the other teams are from within the Zone.
Tanzania Premier League side Simba Sports Club and AFC Leopards from Kenya have won the regional title a record six times a piece. Young Africans SC, the Tanzania Premier League giants and Kenya’s Tusker FC have also lifted the Cup five times each.
But in the absence of the four clubs in the Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024, APR FC (Rwanda), Gor Mahia (Kenya) and Uganda’s Sports Club Villa will be the three teams eager to win the regional Cup for a fourth time.
Although Gor Mahia FC last lifted the trophy in 1985 when they defeating arch-rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final, they now have a well balanced team that has the capacity to go all the way. The team recently signed a Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva and new players Samuel Kapen, Chris Pius Akena, and Gideon Bendeka. The new coach who has lots of coaching experience in Africa made it clear that he will want his team to play attractive ‘shamba’ Football.
For APR FC who have dominated Rwanda Football for several years, will be more than hungry to prove that they have what it takes under new coach Darko Novic. After his team defeated Police 1-0 in the official opening match of the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium on July 1st, Novic made it clear that his target is to reach far in the regional tournament. They also reached the semi-final stage of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.
For SC Villa who recaptured the Uganda Premier League title after 20 years, playing at the regional tournament presents a very good chance for their Serbian coach Dusan Stojanovic. The SC Villa coach has made it clear that playing at the tournament will give his team exposure and experience.
“This tournament comes at a very good time for us as we prepare for the start of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League starting in August,” says Stojanovic.
Interestingly APR FC and SC Villa are all pooled in Group C together with Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).
Al Merriekh from Sudan who have lifted the trophy three times, together with Azam FC (Tanzania) and but will miss out include Al Merriekh (Sudan) and URA FC (Uganda) have also won the Cup twice.
Yusf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager has said they expect a very competitive tournament. “This tournament comes at a good time as they teams use it to prepare for the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. We expect to see attractive and competitive Football over the next two weeks,” added Mossi.
The top team in each of the three groups and the best runners up from any of the groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage.
Top winners of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup
6 time winners
Simba SC (Tanzania – 1974, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2002
Tusker FC (Kenya) – 1967, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1997
5 time winners
Young Africans SC (Tanzania) – 1975, 1993, 1999, 2011, 2012
Tusker FC (Kenya) – 1988, 1989, 2000, 2001, 2008
3 times winners
APR FC (Rwanda) – 2004, 2027, 2010
Al Merriekh (Sudan) – 1986, 1994, 2014
SC Villa (Uganda) – 1987, 2003, 2005
Gor Mahia (Kenya) – 1980, 1981, 1985
Groups A: Coastal Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)
Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti)
Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)