Challenge Cup draw set for today

RWANDA will get to know her opponents in this year’s Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup tournament when fixtures are released today in Kampala, Uganda.

Monday, November 12, 2012
The Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye.

RWANDA will get to know her opponents in this year’s Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup tournament when fixtures are released today in Kampala, Uganda.In a statement, Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said yesterday, "The fixtures will be released on Monday at 1pm (12:00 Kigali time) after holding a meeting with EABL officials”.East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) through their Tusker brand, are the officials sponsors of the tournament to a tune of US$450,000.The teams will be divided into three groups. After the release of the fixtures, Cecafa official will visit all the hotel facilities booked for teams/officials and pay a courtesy call to the management of Namboole stadium. Meanwhile, Somali’s Ocean Stars arrived in Kampala on Friday ahead of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup that kicks off on November 24.The 13-man Somali delegation is currently camped at Mandela Hotel adjacent Mandela National stadium. Eleven others arrived in Kampala on Saturday evening a few other professional players from UK, USA, Holland and Kuwait would join the team later. The Ocean Stars will have a two-week training before the official kick off of the tournament. Somali Federation is meeting their costs until November 21 when Cecafa will take over.Malawi will be the only guest team in this year’s tournament. Three countries including Cameroon and Zimbabwe had earlier showed interest in participating in the same tournament but the regional organising committee picked out Malawi. The other participating countries are Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, Zanzibar, Kenya and hosts Uganda. Uganda are record holders of the championship as they look forward to excel at home and extend title haul to 13 times. Rwanda who last won the title in 1999 will launch another assault to ensure that they bag this year’s title.