Home Sports CECAFA Cup 2017: Rwanda to Play all Group Matches in Machakos

CECAFA Cup 2017: Rwanda to Play all Group Matches in Machakos

by Bonnie Mugabe
5:45 pm

Butera Andrew who has been in impressive form for APR Fc this month is the latest additional player to the Amavubi team currently preparing for the Cecafa Challenge Cup.Courtesy Photo

Rwanda national team will play all her matches in Machakos according to the Council of East and Central African Football (CECAFA).

Speaking to KT Press on Monday afternoon, the CECAFA General Secretary confirmed that the final decision has been as regards to the hosting venues.

“Together with the hosts Football Kenya Federation (FKF), we have taken a final decision to have Machakos and Kakamega as the official hosting venues of the CECAFA Challenge Cup Kenya 2017,”

“Machakos will host all Group A matches while Kakamega will host Group B matches respectively. Later on, we will decide on the match’s venue for the semifinals, third play-offs and the finale,” added Musonye.

Initially, listed as one of the three host venues, Moi Stadium in Kisumu will have Machakos County replacing.

The regional tournament begins on December 3 with Group A tie pitting guest Libya vs Tanzania in a Machakos curtain starting 1300 hours Rwandan time before Rwanda takes on hosts Kenya two hours later.

Cup Holders Uganda Cranes will be in Kakamega County and will get their defense off against, Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Group B.

The venue confirmation comes after the recent move to shift matches earlier scheduled for Kisumu to Machakos County.

Meanwhile, APR Fc’s midfielder Andrew Butera has been added to the Amavubi team which is preparing for the CECAFA Challenge Cup set to be held in Kenya from December 3.

Butera received the call on Sunday night and will be among the 24-man Amavubi team which will hold its second training session today morning at Amahoro stadium.

Amavubi team is set to hold double training session at Amahoro stadium, at 9am and 16h00 on Monday and Tuesday. A single session will be held on Wednesday and Thursday before the team jets out to Kenya on Friday.

Rwanda face Harambee stars of Kenya, Kilimanjaro Stars of Tanzania, the Zanzibar Heroes and guest team the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, who are also preparing for the 2018 CHAN finals in Morocco.

Rwanda’s opening match is on December 3 against hosts Kenya, they will face next face Zanzibar on Dec. 5; take on Libya on December 7 before concluding the group stage action with a date against Tanzania on December 9.

Rwanda has won the regional tournament once in 1999 after beating 3-1 Kenya in the final at Amahoro National Stadium. In 2015, they lost the final to eventual 14-time winners Uganda in the tournament held in Ethiopia.

Uganda is the defending champions having won the trophy for a record 14th time in Ethiopia in 2015.

Opening Fixtures:

Sunday December 3

Group A, Machakos

Libya vs Tanzania (13h00 Rwandan time)

Kenya vs Rwanda (15h00 Rwandan time)

Monday December 4

Group B, Kakamega

Burundi vVs Ethiopia

Uganda vs Zimbabwe