KAMPALA - The Secretary General of the Council for East and Central African Football Association (Cecafa) has said the regional body will not change the format of the Senior Challenge Cup.

Speaking to Times Sport at Namboole Stadium, the council’s Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said although some member countries have proposed to adapt the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) format, it can not be applicable yet in the region.

"Using the Cosafa format where teams play home and away is very expensive for us to handle because it involves a lot of logistical aspects and bigger sponsorship package as well,” he said.

Musonye said if their sponsors GTV decided that they (Cecafa) go the Cosafa way and more money is added, then we would perhaps do that because it can only be done when we are ready and the money is available.

"We shall always stick to our current format where all member countries converge in one country and play for two weeks. This is a much cheaper and easier way to organize the tournament for us now,” explained Musonye.

The Secretary General said the Cecafa top brass had already had round table talks and tried to discuss ways of changing the format of the tournament, but admitted that is was a difficult task that requires lots of money to come in from a sponsor.

He said the Cosafa tournament thrives because of the big amounts of money Castle Lager injects in the event and the organization levels Cosafa has built over time.

He admitted that the region also has a lot of work to do in the respective member countries that stage the different competitions.

"Some member associations fail to do enough in organizing events in their countries and this affects Cecafa as a regional football association,” added Musonye.

Musonye who has worked tirelessly over the years in attracting new sponsors however added that the region needs more sponsors to come on board.

"Football in the region will only become better and better if more sponsors come in,” said Musonye.

He said it is high time more sponsors came on board because the levels of organisation in the region is better, teams have improved greatly, levels of refereeing is good and fans are returning to support football.

"We call upon many more sponsors to come and help develop football in the region,” said Musonye.

Currently Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame supports the Kagame Club championship with a package of US$60,000 as prize money, while pay channel GTV injects close to US$500,000 in the Challenge Cup annually. 

In the past the Zanzibari President Amani Karume and Ethiopian tycoon Sheikh Almoudi have also sponsored Cecafa events.

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