Zambian champions Zesco United have confirmed their participation in CECAFA Kagame Cup 2019 edition
Zambia’s Zesco United and AS Vita, and Motema Pembe of the DRC have confirmed their participation in the 2019 CECAFA Kagame Cup Tournament which will be held in Kigali from July 7-21, 2019.
Speaking to Xinhua on Tuesday, the CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said that plans to stage the tournament are complete, with 18 teams competing from July 7 to 21. He added that they will incorporate three teams from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said, “We have received confirmation from Zambia’s Zesco United and AS Vita, and Motema Pembe of the DR Congo who want to participate in the tournament. These are strong teams and their presence will offer our clubs a platform to prepare for next season’s Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Champions League and Confederation Cup,” said Musonye on Tuesday in Nairobi.
Rwandan league champions Rayon Sports FC will face a litmus test in their quest to recapture the title which comes with a prize purse of 30,000 U.S. dollars, and is sponsored by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame to the tune of 60,000 U.S. dollars.
CECAFA brings together teams from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Musonye said sponsors including President Kagame and Tanzanian broadcaster Azam TV have already confirmed their support for the staging of the tournament, which offers regional teams a platform to gauge their strength ahead of the start of the CAF calendar.
Tanzania’s Azam FC are the defending champions, having beaten compatriots Simba in Dar es Salaam last year.
