Africa’s oldest football competition, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) senior challenge cup ‘may not’ take place this year or have a delayed edition.
The appalling development follows the untimely withdrawal of Ethiopia and none of the other member countries expressing interest in hosting the tournament on such a short notice. CECAFA media officer, Rogers Mulindwa spoke to Kawowo Sports Thursday morning.
We are working around the clock to see that we at least have a late edition
In case the event is not held, this will be the 8th time in the history-laden tournament, founded in 1926 as the Gossage cup that it misses on the palatable football menu. The event first missed out in 1927 just 10 months after first edition. It was also not held in 1933, 1934, 1950, 1968, 1971, 1997 and 1998.
The annual regional event was scheduled to be hosted in Ethiopia from November 24-December 9 but CECAFA announced last month that the hosts had withdrawn following domestic and international engagements.
Efforts to sell the hosting idea to Sudan have fallen on a dead end but Mulindwa insists, CECAFA is persuading another member nation to host the event.
The Kenya Harambee Stars are the defending champions after they defeated the Falcons of Sudan 2-0 in the final last year in Nairobi to clinch their 6th title.
Uganda is the most successful country with 13 titles.
Rwanda is the assured 2015 host, an event that will help the nation of a thousand hills prepare for the 2016 Africa Nations Cup (CHAN) finals which will be held in January.