From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Fri Jul 02 2010 - 08:16:23 EDT
Eritrea to host Cecafa Under-20 Championships
By James WAindi
Eritrea will for the first time in almost 20 years host a major event.
They will host the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association
(Cecafa) Under-20 Friendship Soccer Championship in Asmara between August 14
and 28.
The government of Eritrea has committed to host the regional football
championship in which they hope to carter for all the expenses including air
tickets, full board accommodation, local transport to participating teams
and prize money for the eventual winners of the event.
The government of Eritrea has already renovated two stadia in Asmara, in
readiness for the championship that is expected to provide the country with
an opportunity to showcase their organisational skills and
self-determination.
The teams will be airlifted to Asmara in a special chartered plane that is
expected to collect all teams from Nairobi on August 11.
Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye visited Asmara between July 25 and
29 and held a series of meetings with the Eritrean Football Association and
government officials.
The Eritrean Commissioner of Sports General Ramadan Osman reassured Cecafa
that their government’s commitment is binding and everything will be done in
their capacity to host their first major sporting event in almost 20 years.
General Osman informed Cecafa that apart from providing sponsorship, the
government of Eritrea will also guarantee prize money to the winning teams.
Nine countries have already confirmed their participation. They include,
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Zanzibar and host
Eritrea.
Eritrean government will also cover additional accommodation expenses of one
journalist from each of the participating countries.
Cecafa has also engaged United Nations (UN) to support the bi-annual
championship. The UN offices in Nairobi and Asmara are coordinating a series
of activities ranging from peace building, HIV Aids, United against Malaria
and Gender Promotion.
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