Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye has reacted to criticism leveled against the regional body by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Chairman Sam Nyamweya accusing the leadership of plotting to change the venue for this year’s Senior Challenge Cup.
Musonye says Cecafa had to abide by the sponsors’ wish to move this year’s tournament to Kampala in Uganda. Cecafa-Tusker senior challenge cup kicks off late November and ends mid December of every year. Tanzania has hosted this lucrative tournament twice since the Tanzanian franchise of East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) started sponsoring the tourney in 2010. The sponsor’s contract expires after this year’s tournament.
Nyamweya accused Cecafa of diverting from the earlier position of having the tournament held in Nairobi. Musonye however laughed off the accusations saying that it was important to take the tournament where sponsors were willing to give out cash instead of relying on ‘empty promises’.
“The sponsors preferred this year’s Challenge Cup to be taken to Kampala and that is what we will abide with. Nyamweya can say whatever he wants but the decision is final and we will not bend low to start throwing words through the press.” Musonye hit back.
Uganda Cranes are the defending champions of Cecafa-Tusker Senior Challenge Cup and will now have an advantage to defend the title they last hosted in 2008.
