Darfur Governor Confident Ahead Of Cecafa Event

The governor of North Darfur province in Sudan has assured teams of maximum security when they host this year’s Cecafa Kagame Club Championship.

 

For the very first time, the troubled region that has been at war for almost a decade is hosting the regional championship from June 18 to July 2. There have been some fears that regional tournament could affected by insecurity.

 

But Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir, the governor told Uganda Radio Network in an interview in Darfur on Sunday that the region is safer to host a big football tournament. Although many foreign teams are scared when they hear the mention of Darfur because of the past conflicts, Governor Kibir says all is well in the State and security will even be increased during the tournament.

On Sunday, Kibir met the Cecafa and Sudan Football Federation officials who were doing a final inspection of facilities before the soccer event. He said his State is very ready to host the event and matters of security are being handled with high concern.

 

Kibir said their biggest reason of hosting the event is to bring the people of Darfur together because there has existed lots of division. He looks at football as a unifier and to show the world that Darfur has changed.

 

Nicholas Musonye, the Cecafa Secretary General, said they were impressed with what they had seen on the ground in terms of the hotels, training pitches and the two playing stadia, Al Fasher and Al Neyha.

Musonye also disclosed that the draws for the tournament will be made on Tuesday in Khartoum. Tanzania’s newly crowned League champions, Yanga, are the regional Cup holders. The other teams expected in the event include; Express FC from Uganda, Tusker FC of Kenya), APR FC of Rwanda, Simba SC from Tanzania and Burundi’s Vital’O among others.