Gaborone, Botswana, July 30: The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has pulled out from hosting this year’s Confederation of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Cup senior national team’s soccer tournament.
COSAFA Secretariat in Gaborone confirmed the development in a statement issued Wednesday which was made available to all its affiliates across Southern Africa region.
The statement cited financial and logistical constraints as the major reasons that has prompted Botswana FA decision to pullout from hosting the tournament that was due to be played in the country from September 13-28 this year.
COSAFA Secretariat in Gaborone confirmed the development in a statement issued Wednesday which was made available to all its affiliates across Southern Africa region.
The statement cited financial and logistical constraints as the major reasons that has prompted Botswana FA decision to pullout from hosting the tournament that was due to be played in the country from September 13-28 this year.
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“Due to financial and logistical constraints, the COSAFA Cup, which was due to be played in Botswana in September 2014, has had to be cancelled,” COSAFA President Suketu Patel was quoted by the statement as saying.
Nonetheless, the Southern Africa regional soccer governing body was optimistic that the alternative host will be found and the tournament will still take place as sponsorship has already been sourced.
“In the meantime COSAFA is pleased to report that it has now secured the necessary resources to host a tournament in November /December of this year,” read the statement.
However, it has been disclosed that the potential sponsors have made crystal clear that they will bankroll the tournament on the condition that it should be staged in their country.
“One of the requirements of the commercial partners is that the tournament is played in their country and COSAFA has written to relevant national association to seek permission to host the 2014 COSAFA Cup in their territory,” the statement explained.
The statement further disclosed that the identity of the new host country will be known by the end of this week upon response from the member countries that have been approached to be alternative hosts.
“Currently we await response to our request which has been promised by the end of this week, after which we will make a full press briefing on this matter,” the statement concluded.
Nonetheless, the Southern Africa regional soccer governing body was optimistic that the alternative host will be found and the tournament will still take place as sponsorship has already been sourced.
“In the meantime COSAFA is pleased to report that it has now secured the necessary resources to host a tournament in November /December of this year,” read the statement.
However, it has been disclosed that the potential sponsors have made crystal clear that they will bankroll the tournament on the condition that it should be staged in their country.
“One of the requirements of the commercial partners is that the tournament is played in their country and COSAFA has written to relevant national association to seek permission to host the 2014 COSAFA Cup in their territory,” the statement explained.
The statement further disclosed that the identity of the new host country will be known by the end of this week upon response from the member countries that have been approached to be alternative hosts.
“Currently we await response to our request which has been promised by the end of this week, after which we will make a full press briefing on this matter,” the statement concluded.
By:Joel Chirwa
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