BY CORRESPONDENT
Kenyan giants Gor Mahia, Uganda’s Sports Club Villa, and Rwanda’s APR will be targeting their fourth regional club title when the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 gets underway from July 9-21st in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Tanzania Premier League side Simba Sports Club and AFC Leopards from Kenya have won the regional title a record six times apiece.
Young Africans SC, the Tanzania Premier League giants, and Kenya’s Tusker FC have also lifted the Cup five times each.
Yanga, Tusker, Simba, and AFC Leopards are not taking part in this year’s competition. Yanga and Simba pulled out of the tournament to concentrate on their pre-season preparations.
Although Gor Mahia FC last lifted the trophy in 1985 when they defeated arch-rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final, they now have a well-balanced team that can go all the way.
The team recently signed Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva and new players Samuel Kapen, Chris Pius Akena, and Gideon Bendeka. The new coach who has lots of coaching experience in Africa made it clear that he wants his team to play attractive ‘Samba’ Football.
APR FC who have dominated Rwanda Football for several years, will be more than hungry to prove that they have what it takes under new coach Darko Novic.
After his team defeated Police 1-0 in the official opening match of the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium on July 1st, Novic made it clear that his target is to reach far in the regional tournament.
They also reached the semi-final stage of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.
For SC Villa who recaptured the Uganda Premier League title after 20 years, playing at the regional tournament presents a very good chance for their Serbian coach Dusan Stojanovic. The SC Villa coach has made it clear that playing at the tournament will give his team exposure and experience.
“This tournament comes at a very good time for us as we prepare for the start of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League starting in August,” says Stojanovic.
Interestingly APR FC and SC Villa are all pooled in Group C together with Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merreikh Bentiu (South Sudan).
Al Merriekh from Sudan who have lifted the trophy three times, together with Azam FC (Tanzania) but will miss out including Al Merreikh (Sudan) and URA FC (Uganda) have also won the Cup twice.
Yusf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager has said they expect a very competitive tournament.
“This tournament comes at a good time as the teams use it to prepare for the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. We expect to see attractive and competitive Football over the next two weeks,” added Mossi.
The top team in each of the three groups and the best runners-up from any of the groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage.
Top winners of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup
6-time winners
Simba SC (Tanzania – 1974, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2002
Tusker FC (Kenya) – 1967, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1997
5 time winners
Young Africans SC (Tanzania) – 1975, 1993, 1999, 2011, 2012
Tusker FC (Kenya) – 1988, 1989, 2000, 2001, 2008
3 times winners
APR FC (Rwanda) – 2004, 2027, 2010
Al Merreikh (Sudan) – 1986, 1994, 2014
SC Villa (Uganda) – 1987, 2003, 2005
Gor Mahia (Kenya) – 1980, 1981, 1985
Groups A: Coast Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)
Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti)
Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)
