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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Aug 16 2010 - 12:24:38 EDT
http://newsblaze.com/story/20100815111016shaf.nb/topstory.html
Published: August 15, 2010 Send to a friend
CECAFA Friendship Tourney kicks off in Asmara
By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar
The 2010 CECAFA Friendship and Development Football Tournament has
officially kicked off at the Asmara Stadium in Eritrea on Saturday afternoon
with the host nation Eritrea and its Tanzanian rivals clashing in the
opening match.
During the match both teams performed well and presented fair play with good
tactics which attracted all fans and officials at the stadium including
CECAFA president Leodegar Tenga and General Secretary Nicholas Musonye.
As the game was very hotly-contested both teams had several times managed to
score skilled goals but that was not possible and in the 44th minute of the
first half Eritrea got the sole goal from a free kick and the match ended
with Eritrea defeating its Tanzanian opponents by a goal to nothing.
Before the match kicked off, a very beautiful opening ceremony was held at
the Asmara football stadium in the presence of high level dignitaries
including CECAFA boss, Eritrean minister for education, sports commissioner
and Eritrean football federation president.
President of Eritrean Football Federation and the Chairman of the local
organizing committee, Tesfaye Gebreyesus, who first spoke at the opening
ceremony, said that his country had done all it can to have a good
tournament here in Asmara and that he was very happy that the comfortable
match is now taking place.
"Eritrean government, people and the football federation had all made
whatever they can to show the world that a successful match was hosted in
Eritrea" Mr. Tesafye said during his address at the opening ceremony.
CECAFA president Leodegar Tenga praised Eritrea for its efforts and
commitment to host this precious match for youths in the region saying that
he was admired at how well Eritrea made preparations for hosting this
tournament.
He thanked Eritrea for hosting the national teams from nine different
countries at good hotels with enough meals and good hospitality.
The CECAFA boss has presented very precious awards to the Eritrean sports
Commissioner Major General Ramadan Osman and football federation president
Tesafye Gebreyesus for their past efforts to develop football in the small
east African country.
In terms of health, there are highly experienced doctors and nurses and high
level hospitals allocated to treat the wounded players and even CECAFA
officials and all delegates here in Asmara.
"I have participated in many CAF and CECAFA tournaments and to my surprise I
have never seen such high quality healthy facilities before, I congratulate
Eritrea on the good beginning it has made" Somali Coach Mohamed Abdulle
Farayare told reporters.
Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him
through NewsBlaze.
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