Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Secretary General Nicholas Musonye
The 2019 CECAFA KAGAME Cup will be contested by sixteen regional league champions when the tournament gets underway in Kigali from July 6-21, 2019 in Rwanda.
The development was confimed by the CECAFA General Secretary Nicholas Musonye who is in Rwanda for final venue inspection and draw ceremony alongside Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).
Speaking to KT Press on Wednesday, Musonye said, “We are glad to announce that preparations are in advanced stage with the Government of Rwanda, FERWAFA and CECAFA working very closely to ensure that we deliver a credible competition,”
“As you are aware, this year marks 25 years of Rwanda’s liberation and the 2019 CECAFA-Kagame cup is part of that monumental history in the great country of Rwanda”.
“As of today (Wednesday) we have a record attendance of 13 clubs who have already confirmed to take part in the two week festival. The Government of Rwanda, CECAFA and Ferwafa have planned a 16 club cup competition that will be part of this year’s ceremony,”
Musonye further added, “We shall spread the matches in Kigali City, Rubavu and Huye Districts to enable the citizens of Rwanda andneighboring countries watch Cecafa matches Live. We are glad to partner with Azam TV to transmit the matches Live across the region,”
Besides sharing Rwanda’s history, this tournament serves to give clubs an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup which start immediately after the Kagame cup.
Clubs that have so far confirmed their participation are:Rayon Sports FC and APR FC (Rwanda), Gor Mahia and Bandari of Kenya, reigning champions Azam FC and KMC of Tanzania, KCCA and Proline of Uganda, KMKM of Zanzibar, AS Ports of Djibouti, Heegan of Somalia, TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Green Buffaloes of Zambia.
The final confirmations expected before Friday include Motema Pembe (DRC) and Big Bullets (Malawi).
The CECAFA Secretariat will release fixture for the upcoming tournament on Friday.
The regional club tournament will run concurrently with the 32nd edition of Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals, which will be held in Egypt.
The winner of the annual tournament will go home with $30,000 (Rwf. 27 million) in prize money while runners up will receive $20,000 (Rwf. 18 million) and $10,000 (Rwf. 9 million) respectively.
