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CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup: What the coaches say after the group stage

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The CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup group stage climaxed on July 24th with nine matches played in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The coaches had this to say.

Kim Poulsen (Head Coach, Tanzania)

We are very happy to qualify for the semi finals because our preparations were close to zero since the Tanzania Premier League has just ended. We were also in a very tough group and we surely battled strongly to make it to the next stage.
I think Uganda also deserved to be in the semi final because they play well. We shall not underrate our opponents South Sudan who we face in the semi final. We shall have to approach the semi final match very differently.

Morley Byekwaso (Head Coach, Uganda)

I thank the boys because for the fighting spirit they have showed in the two matches. We created several scoring chances in this tournament, but did not use them well. But it’s a good experience for my young team as we still have two more classification matches.
We need to prepare our teams for the future and this tournament is good to try out players.

Julien Mette (Head Coach, Djibouti)

Ofcourse it is not good to see us failing to win or even score a single goal. But I am happy that the young players have got more exposure from the two matches we played against Kenya and South Sudan. It is from such matches that players get more experience and can be able to improve.

Simon James Yor (Head Coach, South Sudan)

Qualifying for the semi final is very good for my players because it means they have more competitive matches to play and this will help them to develop and become better players. We know the Tanzanian team that we face in the semi final is strong, but we shall prepare well for them.

Wubetu Abate Wubetu (head Coach, Ethiopia)

I am not happy with the way my players played the two group games where we picked draws. We need to improve as a team to take our chances and always shoot at goal instead of holding onto the ball and lack that final finish. But the tournament is good for testing and improving our young players.

Jimmy Ndayizeye (Head Coach, Burundi)

I am impressed with the concentration of my players and we hope they can keep focused for the game against Kenya. We have brought some of our young players from Europe to be tested in this tournament and am happy with the progress. Facing Kenya will not be easy because they have showed they are strong by winning their two games in the pool.

Jean Claude Loboko (Head Coach, DR Congo)

Although we failed to qualify for the semi finals, we are happy that the young players are getting the much needed experience from this tournament. Yes we have been good at creating many scoring chances, but finishing remains our problem.

Stanley Khayo Okumbi (Head Coach, Kenya)

Five goals and two wins makes us happy as the technical bench. But we need to tune out minds and prepare well ahead of the tough match against Burundi. Although we have won all our two games in the group stage, I believe we still have to improve on some aspects.

Yohannes Tesfay Giday (Assistant Coach, Eritrea)

Although we failed to win a single game in the group stage, this has been a good outing for the players. We shall try to field players who have not got a lot of playing time in the remaining two classification matches.

CAF NEWS

CECAFA officials welcome fruitful Zonal Tactical Workshop held in Cairo

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The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) officials have welcomed the recent Zonal Unions tactical workshop held in Cairo, Egypt.

Organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the workshop that took place May 29-30th at the Movenpick Media City Hotel attracted over 40 members from all the six Zones in Africa.

Auka John Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director said the workshop that brought together all Zones under one room was very fruitful and insightful. ” This is the first time did was done and hopefully this is the beginning of greater things in the Zone, ” added Gecheo.

The CECAFA Competitions Manager, Yusuf Mossi also made it clear that having this kind of workshop for the first time was clear testimony of better things to come. ” We are definitely moving forward if we can have such a workshop with all Zones discussing to map out strategies, ” added Mossi.

Jean Sseninde, the Women’s Football Development manager said the workshop was very insightful and helped all members continue educating themselves as they work for the further progress and development of Football.

The two-day tactical Workshop focused on practical steps that will lead to accelerated development and stronger cooperation between CAF and the Zonal Unions.

Sarah Mukuna, CAF Director of Member Associations thanked all the staff of the six Zones for attending the workshop which is a part of the commitment made by CAF Leadership under the President Dr. Patrice Motsepe to strengthen the Zonal Unions and also enhance capacity through knowledge exchange.

The other staff from the CECAFA secretariat who attended the workshop include; Andrew Oryada (Marketing and Communications Manager), Baraka Kizuguto (Football Development Manager), Deocratias Meso (Finance Manager), Ali Ahmed (Head of Referees department) and CECAFA Administaror Veronica Lusichi.

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African Schools Football Championship

CAF African Schools Football Championship finals 2024 set for Zanzibar

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The CAF African Schools Football Championship finals 2024 will be hosted by Zanzibar from May 21-24th at the Amaan Stadium.

Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) announced on Friday that the Championship, the second Edition will take place in Zanzibar.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship which features Boys and Girls under the age of 15 is the brainchild of CAF President Dr.  Patrice Motsepe.

CECAFA Zonal champions St. Marys Secondary School Kitende (SMASK) (Boys) and Kawempe Muslim SS (Girls), also from Uganda will represent the Zone.

To qualify for the final SMACK defeated Tanzania 4-2 via post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final, while Kawempe Muslim SS edged Kenya 2-1 when the Zonal qualifiers were played last December in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hussein Ahmada, the General Secretary of the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF) said that they are happy that they will host the CAF African Schools Football Championship finals. ” We promise to host a good Championship and we invite everyone to come and see Zanzibar, ” he added.

In 2023, Febraury Royal Giants High School clinched the CECAFA title, but failed to travel for the finals of the firts Edition in South Africa, while Tanzania’s Fountain Gate School lifted the girl’s trophy in Durban.

Besides the Championship in Zanzibar, CAF will also conduct various capacity-building programmes which include the Young Reporters Programme, Young Referee Programme, Young Medical Officers Programme, CAF D License Coaching Course, as well as the CAF Safeguarding workshops.

Winners of both the Boys’ and Girls’ competition will each receive USD 300 000 prize money, runners-up each receiving USD 200 000, while the bronze medalists will each take home USD 150 00, courtesy of CAF’s partnership with the Motsepe Foundation to be utilised for development projects within schools.

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Kenya Premier League

10-man Gor Mahia silence rivals AFC Leopards in Kenya Premier League

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A 29th minute goal was enough for Gor Mahia FC to silence their arch-rivals AFC Leopards in a 2023/2024 Kenya Premier League match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.

After dominating play from the start of the match it was Austin Odhiambo who pounced on a goalkeeper blunder and slotted the ball in the net.

But three minutes later Gor Mahia were reduced to 10-men when goalkeeper Kevin Omondi fouled AFC Leopard’s Victor Omune, and was sent straight to the dressing room.

After recess AFC Leopards with the one man advantage pushed forward and created some good scoring chances, but failed to make them count.

Reserve goalkeeper Caleb Omondi who came on when Omondi had been sent off made a couple of good saves to keep Leopards at bay. Johnathan McKinstry, the Gor Mahia head coach said he was happy with the hard fought win. « The players worked hard to collect three points and now we must focus on the remaining matches, » added the coach.

Gor Mahia FC now increased their lead on the log to 57 points from 27 matches played and they look oncourse to retain the trophy and represent the country in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

In the other matches played on Sunday Tusker Fc picked a 1-0 win away to Ulinzi Stars FC, while Murang’a SEAL FC and Mohoroni Youth FC settled for a goalless draw.

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NEWS

Army side APR FC retains Rwanda Premier League title

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Army side APR FC are the champions of the 2023/2024 Rwanda Premier League.

Coach Thierry Froge’s team registered a 1-0 win against Kiyovu Sports FC on Saturday to win their fifth straight League title.

After a goalless first half, Gilbert Mugisha netted the lone goal after 51 minutes in a match played at the Kigalui Pele Stadium. Kiyouvu Sports FC tried to push forward to get some goals, but the APR FC goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila kept them at bay.

The win saw APR FC move to 63 points from 27 matches played, while Rayon Sports Fc are placed second with 51 points and Musanze FC 47 points in third place. The army side are yet to face Gasoyi United FC, Gorilla FC and Amagaju FC.

” We are very happy that after hard work we have won the League title with three more matches to be played, ” said the APR Coach Froge.

In the other matches played on Saturday Rayon Sports beat Bugesera FC 2-1, while Marines FC Gisenyi also picked a 2-1 victory against Police FC. Etoile de Lest defeated Amagaju FC 1-0.

APR FC who have now lifted 22 League title in Rwanda will represent the country in the 2024-2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

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