Kagame Cup
 
Fixtures for Atraco

June 30
Atraco v El Merreikh

July 2   
Atraco v Mathare

July 4    
Atraco v Kartileh

Atraco have played down El-Merreikh as a key threat insisting that they will wrestle the Sudan side as they gun for a maiden Kagame Cup Club championship title. The tournament kicks off June 30 in Khartoum, Sudan.

The league champions’ assistant coach Emmanuel Ruremesha is convinced that the taxi-men side can oust the 1986 and 1994 champions despite falling to the later in this year’s African Champions league. Merreikh knocked out Atraco after a 2-1 win on aggregates.

"They are at home but we are prepared to battle. From the start, we knew that it was never going to be easy,” Ruremesha said.

Atraco have been boosted by the return of Abedi Mulenda, who has been serving a one-year ban from the local football body, Ferwafa for a breach in transfer contract.

Atraco are drawn in Group A alongside El Merreikh, Kenya’s Mathare and Kartileh of Djibouti.

Group B constitutes of TP Mazembe, Uganda’s KCC, Tanzania Prisons and Benadir Telecom of Somalia while defending champion Tusker FC is pitted against Hey El-Arab of Sudan, Miembeni of Zanzibar and Burundi’s Inter Stars in Group C.

The best two teams from each group will be joined by the best two losers in the quarter finals. Due to high temperatures in Sudan, virtually all matches will be staged from 6pm.

The sponsorship package this year has risen to $600,000. The amount includes President Paul Kagame’s annual contribution of $60,000.

The prize money has also increased to $100,000 from $60,000. The winner will pocket $50,000 while the runner-ups will settle for $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.

The matches will be staged at Merreikh, Khartoum and Port Sudan.

Ends