AMAVUBI Stars skipper Olivier Karekezi will not feature for Rwanda in this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup set for December 31-January 13 in Kampala, Uganda.

Karekezi confirmed the development in an e-mail to Times Sport, saying that he needs to rest after a hectic season in the Norwegian Tippeligaen.

"I will not take part in the Cecafa Challenge Cup because I need some time off from competitive football. It has been a busy season for me,” Karekezi said.

The 2006 Swedish top division top scorer played a key role to help Amavubi s reach the finals of last year’s edition which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

However, the 25-year old midfielder could not prevent his Norwegian club (Ham Kam) from being relegated from the Norwegian premier league which ended early this month.

This year, Karekezi has been in fine form for Amavubi stars. He scored three goals to help Rwanda progress to the third round of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifiers.

Rwanda has now been drawn with Egypt, Zambia and Algeria in group C for the third round.

Gateway Television (GTV) will bankroll this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup with a kitty of $500 000 (about Frw276 millions).

The money will foot air tickets, accommodation, prizes and other logistics for all participating countries.

Eleven countries including defending champions Sudan, Kenya, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and hosts Uganda are expected to take part in the regional football show piece.

Sudan are chasing for a hat trick of wins after lifting the last two titles.

Ends