Blantyre, Malawi, November 11: The Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) has reportedly annulled a draw that excluded Malawi participation as a guest team in this year’s tournament.
The soccer tournament which will be held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia is expected to kickoff on November 20 and wind up on December 6 had only included Zambia.
Cecafa secretary general, Nicholas Musonye confirmed the development in an email to his Malawi counterpart on the Flames participation.
The soccer tournament which will be held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia is expected to kickoff on November 20 and wind up on December 6 had only included Zambia.
Cecafa secretary general, Nicholas Musonye confirmed the development in an email to his Malawi counterpart on the Flames participation.
“Your request has been considered positively. We shall give your delegation full board accommodation, a bus and a small car, training ground.
“You will only need to pay participation fee of US $500 and also start the process of visa to Addis Ababa by submitting your team list and their pictures to Ethiopia Football Federation secretariat by Monday,” the email partly read.
Musonye could not be drawn to discuss the reasons why Malawi was left out in the initial draw but said it draw was withdrawn.
“That draw you are seeing is null and void. We have invited Malawi to 2015 Cecafa challenge Cup in Ethiopia. The official draw will be released by Cecafa Wednesday,” Musonye told one local daily.
Malawi FA chief executive officer(Ceo),Suzgo Nyirenda brushed aside concerns that the earlier turn of events would have a negative effect on the ongoing Flames preparations.
He said Malawi FA was just waiting for their counterparts to confirm the issue in writing following a verbal green light.
“It didn’t have any impact we were waiting for the official communication from Cecafa.
“We submitted all the necessary documentation and we were waiting for the official communication from Cecafa,” he said.
He disclosed that Malawi FA has already sent relevant papers and was at the stage of visa processing for the players that will make it for the trip.
“They told us we were guests and we were invited as guests and we were just waiting for the rules and regulations and the draw which will be available Wednesday,” he said.
The draw which excluded Malawi was as follows:
Group A: Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Somalia.
Group B: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti.
Group C: Sudan, Rwanda, Zanzibar, South Sudan.
“You will only need to pay participation fee of US $500 and also start the process of visa to Addis Ababa by submitting your team list and their pictures to Ethiopia Football Federation secretariat by Monday,” the email partly read.
Musonye could not be drawn to discuss the reasons why Malawi was left out in the initial draw but said it draw was withdrawn.
“That draw you are seeing is null and void. We have invited Malawi to 2015 Cecafa challenge Cup in Ethiopia. The official draw will be released by Cecafa Wednesday,” Musonye told one local daily.
Malawi FA chief executive officer(Ceo),Suzgo Nyirenda brushed aside concerns that the earlier turn of events would have a negative effect on the ongoing Flames preparations.
He said Malawi FA was just waiting for their counterparts to confirm the issue in writing following a verbal green light.
“It didn’t have any impact we were waiting for the official communication from Cecafa.
“We submitted all the necessary documentation and we were waiting for the official communication from Cecafa,” he said.
He disclosed that Malawi FA has already sent relevant papers and was at the stage of visa processing for the players that will make it for the trip.
“They told us we were guests and we were invited as guests and we were just waiting for the rules and regulations and the draw which will be available Wednesday,” he said.
The draw which excluded Malawi was as follows:
Group A: Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Somalia.
Group B: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti.
Group C: Sudan, Rwanda, Zanzibar, South Sudan.
By: Joel Chirwa
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