Tanzanian giants Yanga have been thrown out of this year’s Kagame Cup after promising to name a weakened side for the championship.
This was revealed by the General Secretary of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) Nicholas Musonye who confirmed that current Vodacom Premier League winners Azam FC will now represent Tanzania.
“We saw it as disrespect to the competition and barred them (Yanga) from participating,” Musonye told Kawowo Sports on telephone from Nairobi, Kenya.
“Azam FC will now represent Tanzania since they are ready to bring a strong side and they are welcome,” Musonye said.
Yanga were in Group A which has Rayon Sports (Rwanda), Adamma FC (Ethiopia), Atlabara (South Sudan) and KMKM (Zanzibar) thus Azam takes the slot in the pool.
Yanga won the 2012/2013 Tanzania league champions ahead of Azam, but the latter won this year’s title.
Burundi champions Vital’O; winners of last year’s Kagame Cup held in Sudan also pulled out of the tournament plus Ethiopia’s Coffee who have since been replaced with Adamma and Atletico FC.
Yanga also missed out on last year’s edition after citing security concerns following the decision to hold the regional club championships in Darfur, Sudan.
Yanga is home to Uganda Cranes strikers Emmanuel Okwi and Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza.
Kagame Cup kicks off this Friday August 8-24.
