By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Al-Merriekh FC Bentiu is among teams considered by administration of Council of East and Central African Football Association (CECAFA) to participate in CECAFA Kagame Cup, this year.
CECAFA has confirmed that 10 teams from the region to participate in this year’s edition, scheduled to take place in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The ten teams from the CECAFA region will be joined by three guest teams making 13 teams. The three guest teams include five African CAF champion holders TP Mazembe from DR. Congo, Nyasa Bullets FC-Malawi, and Red Arrows FC of Zambia.
The competition was initially scheduled from July 20th to August 4th and June 29th to July 14th in Tanzania however the organizers decided to readjust the date to July 6-22nd to allow players and teams to cope with the busy CAF and FIFA competitions.
According to a Press Release issued by the CECAFA Executive Director John Auka Gecheo, the competition will help teams use the competitions for pre-season preparation
“This competition will help our teams in the Zone prepare better in the pre-season ahead of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup which start in August. Having top sides from DR Congo, Malawi, and Zambia will also spice up our Club competition and give our teams a real test,” says the CECAFA Executive Director John Auka Gecheo.
Al-Merriehk FC Bentiu, represents South Sudan, following their recent triumph over Malakia Juba and Al Salam FC of Aweil in 2023/2024 National League.
Some of the other teams in the CECAFA Kagame Cup include, Vital ‘O (Burundi), APR FC (Rwanda), El Merreikh, Al Hilal, Hai El Wadi (Sudan), Young Africans SC, Simba SC, Azam FC, Coastal Union FC (Tanzania), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), SC Villa (Uganda), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Nyasa Big Bullets FC (Malawi), TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Red Arrows FC (Zambia).