The Confederation of Central and East African Football Associations (Cecafa) has ruled out inviting guest teams to this year’s Senior Challenge Cup set for December 31-January 15 in Kampala, Uganda.

The Council Secretary General Nicholas Musonye told Times Sport yesterday by phone from Nairobi that the decision to leave out foreign teams will help organizers, Fufa to work within their budget.

"Fufa should not be worried about the budget expenses because foreign teams will not take part in this year’s edition of the Challenge Cup,” Musonye said.

The idea to invite four foreign teams (DR Congo, Saudi Arabia, Zambia and Zimbabwe) to compete in the tourney as guests was aimed at making the championship more competitive and attractive.

According to yesterday’s Uganda’s Daily Vision, Fufa was asking the regional soccer governing body Cecafa not to include two guest teams to this year’s Senior Challenge Cup in order to cut costs.

Cecafa and tournament sponsors GTV had planned to invite four countries from either the continent or Middle East to join the Challenge Cup due in Kampala next month. 

The Uganda football association was worried about the financial implications that would arise if foreign teams had graced the tournament.

Cecafa and GTV a fortnight ago announced a $500,000(approx. Frw276m) sponsorship package for the tournament to cater for the teams’ air tickets, accommodation, internal transport, prizes and other logistics.

Hosts, Uganda football association (Fufa) would need an extra Sh200m (about Frw60m) to host two more teams.

Fufa is currently hunting for sponsors including a group of hotels to book the teams in.

The Challenge Cup draws are set for this week at Fufa House in Mengo, Kampala.

The regional tournament is expected to attract teams from Kenya, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and hosts Uganda.

Sudan will be seeking to complete a hat trick of Challenge Cup triumphs.

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