THE COUNCIL of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) has confirmed Kigali as hosts of the 2014 Kagame Club Championship scheduled for August, but the dates are yet to be fixed. 

Cecafa’s Secretary General Nicholas Musonye told Times Sport in a statement that Rwanda will stage this year’s competition which attracts clubs from all the regional football associations. 

"The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has already honoured his pledge of $60,000 prize money. Cecafa and Rwanda FA are finalising the sponsorship package that will cater for all the expenses for teams and all delegations,” said the Nairobi-based Musonye. 

Ferwafa vice president Veduste Kayiranga said yesterday, "We want the tournament to be here, and we hope that Ministry of Sports and Culture will provide the money to finance it.” 

Defending league champions Rayon Sports, who won their only title to date in 1998, will represent Rwanda.  Burundi’s Vital’O are the defending champions after beating APR in the final played in Darfur, Sudan last year.

APR remains Rwanda’s most successful club in this competition having won it three times in 2004, 2007 and 2010. Atraco FC, now defunct, is the other Rwandan team to win the regional tournament in 2009.

President Kagame has sponsored the regional club championship to a tune of US$60,000 annually since 2002.

Cecafa-Supersport contract

Cecafa and South African Multi-national broadcaster SuperSport have signed a four year agreement that will run from 2014 to 2017. 

Musonye has revealed that both parties have entered a four-year sponsorship deal which will see SuperSport owning broadcasting rights of both Cecafa Challenge Cup and Kagame Cup.

Nile Basin Cup Winners Cup

Musonye also added that in an effort to expand club competition in the region, Cecafa have launched the Cecafa Nile Basin Cup Winners Cup that will be contested by winners of cup competitions in the region. 

The inaugural tournament is set to be held in Sudan from May 20 to June 5. Cecafa and Sudan FA have secured full sponsorship that will cover air tickets for teams and delegations, accommodation, local transport and prize money. 

The first Nile Basin Cup Winners’ Cup tournament will have teams from the Cecafa region plus the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Egypt has been offered the chance to nominate clubs to take part.