Cecafa Senior Challenge
Scramble for CECAFA Events Hosting
After the successful CECAFA Senior challenge cup in Kenya last year, there seem to be an instant interest from regional members to stage the six events lined up for this year. The scramble is so fierce that it is hard to tell how the Secretariat will handle the demand.
The matter is further complicated by USD one million that FIFA is channeling to the zone to organize women and youth Competitions every year and the deal struck by CECAFA to engage Azam TV as their broadcast partners for the next three years .
CECAFA is the most successful regional grouping in Africa virtue of its ability to stage competitions. The region is also known for its ability to organize elections according to their statutes.
For the first time in many years, Kenya hosted a credible CECAFA tournament when the challenge cup ran flawlessly and ended without a hitch in December. All suppliers were paid by CECAFA and FKF and even the Harambee stars players got their dues as promised.
Nicholas Musonye, the long serving secretary General of CECAFA told Nation sport that despite moving matches in three venues- Machakos, Kakamega and Kisumu, the event ran smoothly adding that it was a good idea for people in the regions to watch top regional stars.
Last week, Musonye visited Burundi who are hosting the under 17 CECAFA tournament in April.
‘I was shocked with the stadia I saw in the regions in Burundi. This is what I recommend other CECAFA members to do. There are several small standard stadia in Burundi that are really amazing .
Musonye who had an opportunity to meet the President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza in Ngozi region in the North said Burundi has what It takes to host any CECAFA competition.
“The President is passionate about soccer. He has built a beautiful 10,000 seater stadium in Ngozi and another 6,000 capacity in Muyinga. He is personally supervising another one for about 10,000 capacity in Gitega.
“Bring CECEFA to Burundi and see how the stadia will fill. I also request you to give us Senior Challenge cup next year. We are ready for you” Nkurunziza told the Secretary General.
Before he left Bujumbura, the Burundi FA had already written a letter to CECAFA confirming their bid for Challenge cup in 2019.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars are the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup champions after beating Zanzibar 3-2 on post-match penalties.
The two sides had tied 2-2 at extra time forcing the winner to be decided through spot kicks.
Kenyan custodian Patrick Matasi was the hero of the game after he blocked three penalties to hand the Harambee Stars their 13th title in the regional tournament at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, on Sunday.
“This was team work as our coach had given us the morale. My coach told me (before the penalties) to concentrate with the ball and not jump around,” Matasi said after the match.
Harambee Stars goals had been scored by Ovella Ochieng and Musa Mohammed while Zanzibar had equalized both goals through Khamis Musa at extra time.
On spot kicks, Kenya scored courtesy of Jockins Atudo, Wesley Onguso and Samuel Onyango, while Duncan Otieno missed out.
Kenya last won the trophy in 2013 after edging out Sudan 2-0 in Nairobi.
Zanzibar defied the odds when they sunk Cecafa heavyweights and holders Uganda 2-1 to set up a finals date with Kenya on Sunday.
Friday’s win at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu put Zanzibar on course to ending their 22-year title drought in the regional Cup competition thanks to goals from Abdul-Aziz Makame Hassan and Mohamed Issa.
The tournament’s surprise package took the lead in the 24th minute when midfielder Abdulaziz Makame turned to fire in a loose ball after Ibrahim Ahmada’s corner.
Six minutes later Ugandan striker Derrick Nsibambi levelled when he connected with a low cross from Allan Kyambadde to score his fourth goal of the tournament.
Nicholas Wadada came close to adding a second for Uganda only for the Zanzibar keeper to punch the ball to safety.
The 14-time champions, who had two defenders sent off in the quarter-final against Ethiopia, were again undermined by ill-discipline as defender Joseph Nsubuga was shown a straight red by the Rwandan referee for pulling back Ibrahim Ahmada inside the box in the 58th minute.
Mohammed Issa converted the resulting penalty in the 58th minute to send the Zanzibaris into their second final.
Harambee Stars have made their way to the finals in the ongoing Cecafa competition.
This was after edging out a resillient Burundi side 1-0 in a semi-final match at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu on Thursday afternoon.
For most part of the match, Burundi fielding a strong squad was the better team creating more chances, but it was the hosts who got luckier as they keep the hunt for a fifth CECAFA crown.
Whyvonne Isuza’s extra-time goal was enough to send the hosts to the final of the tournament and will now face the winner between champions Uganda and Zanzibar.
Kenya will now play the winner of Friday’s semi-final between holders Uganda and Zanzibar in Sunday’s final.
The victory continues a promising start for Kenya’s new Belgian coach Put, who only took charge of the team last month.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars ensured progress to the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup semi-finals as Group A winners after beating Tanzania 1-0 in Machakos on Monday.
Kenya finished the group stage matches with eight points, one ahead of Zanzibar who will play defending champions and Group B winners Uganda Cranes in the second semi on Friday and will pay Group B’s second placed side Burundi in Machakos on Thursday.
AFC Leopards forward Vincent Ouma repaid the faith shown in him by head coach Paul Put handing him his first ever start for the national team as he tapped home a 20th minute goal to hand Stars the win.
Put made changes to his forward line for his fourth match in charge of the team, handing Oburu a starting role as the team’s lead strikers supported on either wing by George Odhiambo and Ovella Ochieng.
Earlier in the day, Zanzibar lost to Libya 1-0 but are second group A. Uganda topped Group B on five points similar to Burundi but the former have a superior goal difference.
Kenya plays Burundi and Uganda versus Zanzibar in the last four on Thursday and Friday respectively at Moi Stadium in Kisumu County.
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