The Secretary General of the Council for East and Central African Football (CECAFA), Nicholas Musonye, has said they expect Uganda to organize one of the best tournaments in the region when the 2012 Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge Cup takes place in Kampala later this year.
Speaking at the launch of the tournament at the Serena Hotel this morning where the sponsors East African Breweries Limited (EABL) through their Tusker brand unveiled a sponsorship deal worth 450,000 dollars, Musonye said he trusts Uganda will do a great job when the event takes place November 24 to December 8.
Musonye recalled that Uganda had hosted a great 2009 edition of the competition and hopes that the event will even be better this time round. Musonye also revealed that countries like Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana had requested to come in as guest sides.
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Lemmy Mutahi, the EABL Marketing Director, said the sponsorship will cover the prize money for teams, accommodation, air tickets, local transport and administrative costs. The matches will be relayed live on SuperSport.
Musonye explained that although initially Kenya was supposed to host the event, the sponsors had asked CECAFA to have the event in Uganda. Musonye said that CECAFA have contractual obligations with the sponsors and it was to have the event in Tanzania in 2010 and 2011 before it’s moved to another country. The country of choice this time round being Uganda.
He also said Kenya, who had threatened to skip the tournament because it had been moved, will attend. FUFA Vice President in-charge of technical issues, Livingstone Kyambadde promised that the country will host a successful event because the security and the environment are perfect.
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The launch was also attended by CECAFA life member Kezekia Ssegwanga Musisi and Uganda Cranes former skipper Jimmy Kirunda.
Uganda Cranes, who have won the trophy more than any other team in the region, are the defending champions after beating Rwanda in the finals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last year.
