The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Jessca Nangawe
8 December 2011
Dar es Salaam — Kenya is the strongest contender for the rights to host next year’s edition of the 2012 Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup, it was revealed yesterday.
Cecafa general secretary Nicholas Musonye told The Citizen that Nairobi where the 2009 event took place stands the biggest chance of playing host to the coveted regional tournament.
Musonye said Dar es Salaam has hosted it for two consecutive years while Kampala was the host city in 2008, therefore it was high time Nairobi staged the championship.
Reports had it that the Cecafa’s congress meeting held last month awarded Nairobi the hosting rights, but Musonye promised to confirm it tomorrow.”Nairobi was suggested to host the 2012 event during the congress meeting, but I am not in a position to confirm it now, let’s wait until Saturday,” Musonye said.
The tournament, which entered into the semifinal stage yesterday, will come to an end tomorrow and the Zanzibar President, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, will grace the closing ceremony.
Late last month, Football Kenya Federation Chairman Sam Nyamweya said they would start preparations immediately and pointed out that Kisumu City would host one of the groups.”We are delighted that we will be hosting the Cecafa tournament next year. We have to move with speed together with Kisumu Municipal Council to refurbish the Moi Stadium,” Nyamweya said.
Kenya, who had a run-of-the-mill performance this year, will have to go back to the drawing board and make an impression at home next November.Speaking of this year’s championship, Musonye appreciated the level of football exhibited by some teams, saying the Cecafa region has come of age.”Last year’s event was great, but we have seen some improvements this time around, the tournament is more competitive.
“Well, some teams have dropped a little bit, but the likes of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda have so far demonstrated some sublime soccer,” he said.Musonye also showered praise on Somalia and Djibouti saying they played well compared to yesteryears.
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