Kagame Cup: Govt to decide on Yanga, Simba participation
Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Leodegar Tenga has said the participation of Young Africans and Simba in the Kagame Cup rests in the hands of the government. Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Leodegar Tenga The annual Council for East and Central African Football Federation (CECAFA) club championship is set for June 18 to July 2 in North Darfur and South Gordofan, Sudan. Both clubs have insisted that they will not honour the competition without the blessing of the government which has warned that security conditions are critical in Darfur Region. Tenga told reporters in Dar es Salaam that TFF has already held consultations with the government which is assessing the security situation in Darfur. "We've given the government all the necessary details on the tournament, including teams' accommodation, security assurance, internal transport, etc and the government is now assessing the situation before making a decision," he said. "Security matters are outside CECAFA's power. So if the government discovers that there is insecurity in Darfur we will not allow our teams to go, but if it's satisfied that security is good it will let them," he added. "CECAFA's duty is to organise competitions and get assurance of security from the host nations." "If we're guaranteed security, competitions will take place, but individual member- states have the right to question security arrangements because it is the duty of the respective governments to take care of the lives of their citizens." Tenga said CECAFA convened an emergency meeting on the sidelines of the FIFA Congress in Port Louis, Mauritius and was briefed on the preparations of the Kagame Cup by the Sudan Football Association. He added that member-states endorsed the report after they were guaranteed security. Meanwhile, Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye has warned that the body will take stern measures against clubs that have decided to withdraw from the 2013 Kagame Cup. This follows the announcement that Kenya Premier League Champions Tusker FC have pulled out of the competition. "Our rules are very clear. A team that pulls out of any of our events after confirming is liable to face disciplinary action," he told Goal.com. "The executive committee will decide on the best action to take before the competition kicks off."