Police FC are the winners of the season opening 2024 FERWAFA Super Cup.

Coach Vincent Mashami’s team defeated Rwanda Premier League reigning champions APR FC 6-5 in penalty shoot-outs after the match had ended goalless in the final played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday.

The two sides created some good scoring opportunities, but failed take them. Yunusu Nshimiyimana had the best chance for APR FC, while Elijah Ani and Richard Kilongozi caused also came close for Police FC.

Mashami whose team had pre-season in Uganda and played some build-up matches said winning the Super Cup was a good motivator ahead of the new season. “We need to keep working hard because there are many matches ahead a head including the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup,” added the Police FC coach.

Police FC will now shift attention to prepare for a trip to Algeria where they will face CS Constantine in the 1^st preliminary round of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

APR FC who finished second in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last month will also turn their focus to their away encounter next weekend against Tanzania’s Azam FC in the 1^st preliminary round of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Vital’O are the 2023/2024 Burundi Primus Premier League champions.

Coach Parris Sahabo’s team will now represent Burundi in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions league.

Sahabo’s team finished with 72 points from 30 matches played, while Flambeau du Centre who put up a good show came second with 69 points.

” We are very happy that after hard work through out the season we have lifted the title and can now play at continental level, ” says Vital’O coach Sahabo.

Vital’O who who had last lifted the Burundi Primus Premier League title in the 2015/2016 season have won the title a record 21 times. Inter FC have lifted the title 9 times, while Bumamuru FC only recorded it once in the 2022/2023 season.

The other Premier League that has been decided in the CECAFA Zone is Rwanda where APR FC emerged champions.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba has said they are pleased with the way CECAFA is carrying out it’s duties to develop football in the Zone.

Véron Mosengo-Omba said this last Friday after attending the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) non-elective General Assembly at the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya.

The CAF General Secretary who stated that they have increased from US$500,000 to US$750,000 that Zones will be getting every year also thanked CECAFA for inviting him and other members of CAF and FIFA to their Assembly in Mombasa.

“CECAFA Assembly was very organized and successful. Football does not start in Cairo at the CAF headquarters, but in the Zones, and we are happy with what CECAFA is doing,” added Mosengo-Omba.

He made it clear that CECAFA is one of the most pro-active Zones in the continent with regular General Assemblies, regularly holding competitions and handling their books of accounts well,

“ I am very impressed with CECAFA and I hope they get better and better for the betterment of football in the Zone,” added Véron Mosengo-Omba.

The other CAF officials who attended the CECAFA General Assembly included; Sarah Mukuna (Director of Member Associations), Genan Korra (Head of Zonal Union Affairs) and the Director of Legal Affairs, Felix Majani.

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sport in Kenya, Ababu Namwamba has said they are prepared to successfully host two CECAFA tournaments.

Namwamba was speaking this morning during a press conference held at his office at Talanta Plaza in Nairobi ahead of the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship to take place November 25th to December 8th, 2023 in the towns of Kisumu and Kakamega.

” We are prepared to host successful CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship and the Pan Africa Schools tournament. Secondly we wish to rally fans to Bukhungu and Kisumu Stadium to support their team, ” added Namwamba.

He made it clear that Kenya’s hosting and participation is intentional and in sync with government manifesto of attracting and hosting elite competition to develop talent and promote Kenya as a destination of choice.

Nick Mwendwa, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President encouraged fans to attend the matches to support the boys. He added the U-18 Camp at Kasarani had 45 players and a final squad was selected ahead of the opening group A match on Sunday against Sudan.

The Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Auka Gecheo thanked Kenya for accepting to host the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship and the Pan Africa Schools tournament.

” We appreciate the commitment of the Ministry of Youth and Sport Cabinet Namwamba,  and our partners FKF in hosting two CECAFA tournaments this year, ” added Gecheo.

He made it clear that CECAFA works hard to offer platforms for all member associations to prepare and compete at the continental and global stage. ” This is CECAFA’s 5th tournament this year and we are delighted to be back again in Kenya, ” he added. Kenya last hosted a CECAFA tournament in 2021, the Zonal CAF Women’s Champions League.