NEWS
CECAFA President Karia advises young writers on balanced reporting
The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Wallace Karia has urged sports writers to always be balanced in their reporting.
“You must always be very balanced in your reporting of football even if some people are your close friends. Balanced reporting also contributes to football development,” said Karia who was awarding certificates to about 20 Young reporters at the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Technical Centre in Kigamboni, Tanzania on Saturday.
The one day workshop was organized as a follow-up by CAF, CECAFA and TFF for Young Reporters after the conclusion of the Zonal CECAFA qualifiers for the CAF Schools Football Championship that concluded last month.
During the Schools tournament last month held in Dar es Salaam, CAF together with CECAFA organized workshops for safe guarding, young referees, coaches and young reporters.
Karia made it clear that the media play a very important role in the development of football in a country. “We are partners with the media, although the journalists must always follow the ethics of journalism and be very balanced by listening to all sides,” stressed Karia, also President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).
He thanked CAF for starting the Schools Football tournament and several workshops that are helping to improve Young reporters, Young referees, coaches and experts on safe guarding.
Latifa Anafi, one of the writers who attended the Young Reporters Workshop thanked CAF, CECAFA and TFF for organizing the workshop. “We have really learnt a lot from this workshop that will make us become better sports journalists,” added Anafi.
CECAFA’s head of Communication and Branding, Andrew Oryada was the main facilitator of the Workshop. Clifford Ndimbo, the TFF head of Communication and Global Publishers’ Saleh Ally Saleh also made presentations.
All roads lead to the Kigali Pele Stadium on Tuesday to witness the semi-final stage of the regional CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.
The first match will see three time winners Gor Mahia FC from Kenya face Al Hilal SC (Sudan) in what promises to be a thriller.
Guy Bukasa has made it clear that his Al Hilal side will walk on to the pitch with one mission to win and get to the final. “We are in the semi-final and the target is to win. When you reach this stage of the competition, you have to fight to make the final,” says Bukasa.
He said although they respect Gor Mahia FC, his team is well prepared for the match in all aspects. “Gor Mahia deserve our respect. The tactical approach will be very important because both teams like to build from the goalkeepers,” added Bukasa.
Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor also made it clear that although they respect Al Hilal as a strong force in African Football, the Kenyan champions are well prepared for the encounter.
“We believe in ourselves as Gor Mahia and together with the support of our fans we are ready to carry the fly high,” added Akonnor.
Gor Mahia defender Daniel Sakari Macheso, also made it clear that the boys are geared up for the semi-final clash.
Interestingly the two teams go into the knock-out stage having each netted six goals and conceded more in the group stage to finish with six points respectively.
The second semi-final between surprise package Jamus SC from South Sudan and home side Rayon Sport FC also promises to be a tough battle.
Francis Haringingo, the Rayon Sport coach admits the match will be very tough against a Jamus SC side that topped a tough group that had holders Singida Black Stars and Simba SC. “We shall give everything possible to reach the final,” he added.
The Jamus SC head coach Saber Ben Jabria says his team is ready for the challenge. “We are not scared playing infront of the home crowd because the boys are ready and determined to prove a point,” added the coach.
The two teams go into the semi-final as the only unbeaten sides in the group stage. Rayon Sports FC where the only team to collect maximum points in the group, while Jamus SC picked two wins and a draw.
A total of US$60,000 prize money courtesy of the Rwanda President Paul Kagame awaits the top three teams. The winner will bag US$30,000, the ruuner-up US$20,000 and te third placed team US$10,000.
The 2025 CAF Men’s Best referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will officiate the final of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.
Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) announced the news on Sunday.
The Somali referee together with two assistants Liban Abdulrazack (Djibouti) and Eliezer Stephen Yiembe (Kenya) who were appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup on August 12th in Salzburg will all handle the CECAFA Kagame Cup final at the Amahoro Stadium on August 7th.
“On behalf of CECAFA. I warmly welcome Artan back to our region as he officiates at the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026. Artan has become a symbol of excellence in African refereeing, and his remarkable achievements continue to inspire young match officials across the continent. His presence at our flagship competition reflects the high standards that CECAFA is committed to promotion, and we are proud that one of our own continues to represent Africa with distinction on the world stage,” says the CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam.
The trio are expected to arrive in Kigali on Tuesday as they will also be expected to use the CECAFA Kagame Cup platform to prepare for the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC.
The CECAFA Kagame Cup semi final will take place on August 4th with Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) facing Al Hilal SC, while home side Rayon Sport FC take on Jamus SC (South Sudan).
The champions will pocket US$30,000, while the runner-up takes US$20,000, and the third placed US$10,000.
The semi-final stage of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 is set for August 4th at the Kigali Pele Stadium, Rwanda.
After the final group stages climaxed on Saturday, Rayon Sport FC and Al Hilal SC have joined Gor Mahia and Jamus SC at the knock-out stage.
Rayon Sport FC, who will represent Rwanda in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup defeated Al Hilal SC (Sudan) 1-0 in the last group tie to come out top.
The Blues netted through Atisso Kodjo after 17 minutes to ensure they finished the group stage with maximum nine points.
Rayon Sport FC will now face surprise package Jamus SC from South Sudan in the second semi-final clash.
Christian Francis Haringingo, the Rayon Sport FC head coach said he was happy to get to the next stage after winning all three matches. “This is part of pre-season and we are now ready to face any team in the semi-final stage,” says Haringingo.
The Sudan side who finished as the best second placed team will now face Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) in the fiurst semi-final tie in what promises to be a thriller.
Another Kenyan side Tusker FC also secured the only win in the competition after seeing off KVZ FC 2-0 in a Group C match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium.
Ian Simiyu and Victor Mbaoma netted the goals for the Kenya Premier League side.
South Sudan’s Jamus SC are the second team to book a place in the semi-final at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.
Jamus SC struggled from a goal down to defeat Mogadishu City Club 2-1 in a tough Group B match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Friday.
An own goal by Thomas Eta gave Somalia’s Mogadishu City Club the lead after 40 minutes to silence the Jamus SC fans in the Stadium.
Adfter recess Jamus SC pushed forward to scored two goals through substitute Mario Taban Cherelino and Laurent Ramazani. The win pushed Jamus SC to top of the table with 7 points.
Saber Ben Jabria, the Jamus SC coach said he was proud of his team that picked two victories and drew once in Group B. “We now start focusing on the semi-final,” added the Tunisian.
In the second Group B tie Simba SC humbled 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC in an all Tanzanian affair clash held at the Amahoro Stadium.
Malian International Ibrahim Doumbia gave Simba SC the lead after 27 minutes, but Mathew Tegisis leveled matters for Singida Black Stars after 41 minutes.
Elie Mpanzu netted Simba SC’s winning goal after 66 minutes.
After Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) and Jamus SC have booked places in the semi-finals, focus will turn to the two Group C matches on Saturday with Al Hilal SC (Sudan) facing Rayon Sport FC (Rwanda), while Tusker FC (Kenya) battle Zanzibar’s KVZ FC.
-
CAF Champions League9 months agoYoung Africans draw Al Ahly for CAF Champions League group stage
-
CAF African Nations Championship2 years agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
CAF African Nations Championship12 months agoCHAN 2024: Kenya lead group, to face Madagascar in quarter final stage
-
FIFA U-17 World Cup 20259 months agoUganda ejects Senegal to storm FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16
-
FIFA WOrld Cup Qualifiers11 months agoUganda win, Tanzania pick late draw in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
-
CECAFA11 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
NEWS5 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
Top stories6 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino