Thursday, December 10, 2009

CECAFA - Sudan Cup: El-Malakia from Juba is in Khartoum to play against El-Merrikh

Football in southern Sudan is developing and has a bright future. El-Malakia from Juba is in Khartoum to play against national giant El-Merrikh in the quarter-finals of the Sudan Cup. It is the first time in many years that a team from Juba has reached this level of the competition.

The Sudan Football Association (SFA) is holding its Annual General Meeting this week in Khartoum. Six new football associations from southern Sudan have joined this year’s assembly.

Reportedly, finance is the main reason Sudan's national team was not able to participate in this year’s CECAFA tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, 10 December 2009:
(Khartoum) – The Sudan Football Association (SFA) says that the national team was not able to participate in this year’s CECAFA tournament in Nairobi because of financial constraints.

The Secretary General of the SFA, Rudolf Andrea, spoke to SRS in Khartoum on Thursday.

[Rudolf Andrea]: “The national team needed plenty of training but our financial situation prevented us from participating. The time was so short, by the time the decision was taken, the start of the CECAFA competition was only a week or two away. There wasn't enough time to gather the players and prepare them to go out there to play. Finance is the main reason Sudan is not participating.”

The SFA is holding its Annual General Meeting this week in Khartoum. Six new football associations from southern Sudan have joined this year’s assembly.

In other soccer news…

El-Malakia from Juba is in Khartoum to play against national giant El-Merrikh in the quarter-finals of the Sudan Cup. It is the first time in many years that a team from Juba has reached this level of the competition.

Rudolf Andrea noted that this shows football in southern Sudan is developing and has a bright future.

[Rudolf Andrea]: “El-Malakia team reached this level after defeating Renk Olympic, Rapta Kosti and El-Merriekh from Geneina. I want to say that this is the first time a team from southern Sudan has reached this far in a competition organized by the national football association.”

El-Malakia was beaten 4-2 in Juba by El-Merrikh on Tuesday but still got a place in the quarter finals on points.
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UPDATE - From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, 11 December 2009:
(Khartoum) – Khartoum's El-Merrikh defeated Malakia from Juba 9-0 in the quarter-finals of Sudan Cup soccer tournament on Thursday evening in Omdurman.

Malakia was beaten 4-2 in Juba by El-Merrikh in the first round on Tuesday.

The chairman of El-Merrikh, Jamal Al-Wali, donated 10 million SDG to the Malakia club as well the gate money which is usually divided between the two teams.

Wali said his club donated the money to Malakia to thank them for the warm welcome and the hospitality accorded to El-Merrikh while the team was in Juba this week.

Al-Wali also donated 60 floodlights for Juba Stadium.

The donation to Malakia Football Club was announced during the match.

El-Merrikh will play Al-Hilal, their principal rival, in the final in Khartoum on Monday.

Al-Hilal defeated Al-Mirgani of Kassala 2-1 in Kassala on Thursday to earn their place in the final.

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