MondayGroup BUganda vs Burundi 2pmTuesdayGroup AZanzibar vs Rwanda 1pmKenya vs Libya 3pmGroup BEthiopia vs South Sudan 2pm

Rayon Sports’ Burundi international Pierrot Kwizera says his team will be tough to beat at this year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Kenya where they are set to start their campaign against defending champions Uganda on Monday at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.

Burundi’s German head coach Rainer Willfeld included in his final squad several players who ply their trade in the Azam Rwanda Premier League, among them Rayon Sports’ duo of Kwizera and Shassir Niyonkuru.

Others are David Nshimirimana, Tresor Akimana and Gael Nduhayindavyi (from Mukura Victory Sports), Amagaju FC forwards Shaban Hussein and Trésor Ndikumana, as well as defender Omar Moussa of Bugesera FC.

Kwizera declared that the Intamba m’Urugamba will be seeking to win this year’s tournament for their first title of the regional competition. Burundi’s best run in the competition came in 2004 when they lost 3-0 against hosts Ethiopia in the final.

"We are a strong side and I believe in my teammates and coaching staff. We have improved in the way we play, we have matured as a team and I think we will be hard to beat,” Kwizera told Times Sport.

The two-time and reigning Azam Rwanda Premier League Player of the Year, added: "Cecafa is a regional brand and it will be really good team to win it. I believe Burundi are one of the title contenders.”

Burundi’s other opponents in Group B are South Sudan and Ethiopia, who also face off in their own opener on Tuesday.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw