APR draw TP Mazembe in Kagame Cup

Group A: APR (Rwanda), TP Mazembe (DRC), Vital’O (Burundi), Telkom (Djibouti)Group B: Rayon Sport (Rwanda), St. George (Ethiopia), Heartland (Nigeria), Mafunzo (Zanzibar)Group C: Atraco (Rwanda), Sofapaka (Kenya), URA (Uganda), Simba (Tanzania). APR has been presented with another chance to even their case with TP Mazembe after the two were drawn in Group A of the upcoming Cecafa Kagame Cup. The annual tournament which is funded by President Paul Kagame will be hosted in Kigali from May 15 to 29. APR, who were dumped out of the lucrative Orange Champions league early this year, will bank on home support as they seek revenge against the African champions who boast of top quality players like Tresor Mputu. APR’s other opponents in the group include Burundi’s Vital’O and Telkom of Djibouti. Group B pits Rayon Sport, Ethiopia’s St. George, Nigeria’s Heartland and Zanzibar’s Mafunzo. In Group C, Sam Simbwa will face former club and reigning champions Atraco when he leads his Kenyan outfit Sofapaka. Uganda’s URA and Simba of Tanzania complete the group. The top two teams in each group and the best two third-placed sides will progress to the quarter finals. Last year, Atraco romped to the title after a shocking 1-0 win over hosts El-Merreikh in the final. It was the biggest upset in the competition’s 34-year history not only because it was the taxi-men’s debut in the event but also because El-Merreikh had hammered Atraco 6-1 in the group stage. After yesterday’s draws, Cecafa’s Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said that a lot of clubs across the continent had showed interest in participating in the tournament but due to logistical issues, the body had to whittle them down. “In this regard, we considered Rayon Sport, Nigeria’s big guns Heartland and TP Mazembe,” he said. The regional body also thanked Kagame for supporting the tournament and giving Cecafa a life line in running its programs. Ends

Sports

APR draw TP Mazembe in Kagame Cup