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.

African Champions League: El-Merrikh and El-Hilal drawing 0-0 in Omdurman, Sudan

Great footballing news from Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 20 July 2009:
Sudan teams Draw in Saturday's Champion League Match

(Khartoum) – The opening match of the African Champions League began on Saturday with El-Merrikh and El-Hilal drawing 0-0 at El-Merrikh stadium in Omdurman.

It was an exciting match for fans of both sides given the rivalry between the teams battling for soccer supremacy in the country. There was a heavy presence of anti-riot police in and around the stadium. A sport columnist for Al-Ayaam newspaper, Badr eL-Din el-Basha, described the match to Sudan Radio Service.

[Badri El-din El-Basha]: “I’m happy that El-Merrikh and El-Hilal have reached this level. This shows that Sudanese football has gone on to higher level. The two teams have not reached this stage easily; it comes from the efforts of the administration, the club members, the bench and so on. They began playing this match under pressure. It is clear there was pressure from the media, fans and administrators. You can see the first half was played in a bad mood – without concentration, they did not execute the plans of their respective coaches. Yesterday (Saturday) they were playing under pressure.”

The first half began with El-Hilal dominating possession, forcing El-Merrikh to play defensively until in the eighteenth minute when El-Merrikh’s striker Kletchi Osunwa made a dramatic attempt to score from outside the penalty box. His shot was saved by El-Hilal’s goalkeeper Muwiz Mahjoub. El-Hilal kept on their pressure up to half-time but failed to make an impression on the score.

El-Merrikh’s bench apparently changed tack and they dominated the second half but failed to score. Nevertheless, the match result is in Hilal’s favor since they were playing away in group A of the African Champions League trophy.

Click on 'CECAFA' label here below for previous news of footballing in Sudan.



Photo: Al Merreikh Stadium, Omdurman, Sudan (Merrikh - Red Castle/zerozerofootball.com)

Omdurman (Standard Arabic Umm Durmān أم درمان) is the largest city in Sudan and Khartoum State, lying on the western banks of the river Nile, opposite the capital, Khartoum. Omdurman has a population of over 3 million (2007) and is the national center of commerce. With Khartoum and Khartoum North or Bahri, it forms the cultural and industrial heart of the nation.

CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME PHOTOS OF OMDURMAN, JEBEL MARRA AND OTHER FASCINATING PLACES IN SUDAN

4 new Sudan Football Association branch offices have been opened in S. Sudan: Rumbek, Wau, Rajah and Aweil

Here is some encouraging news for football players in Sudan. The Chairman of southern Sudan’s Football Development Committee, Mr Andrea Abdallah, is calling on the Government of southern Sudan to support the efforts of the Sudan Football Association to rebuild football stadiums in the region.

Great news. From Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, 14 July 2009:
South Seeks More Stadiums

(Khartoum) – Mr. Abdallah told Sudan Radio Service in Khartoum on Sunday that southern Sudan has the opportunity to host regional tournaments but the southern stadiums are not up to standard.

[Mr. Andrea Abdallah]: “We have a problem. In the whole of southern Sudan, the only stadium with a grass pitch is in Juba. We are calling on the leadership in Juba to help us build grass pitches. We want them to install lights in the stadiums of Wau, Juba and Malakal. And if we are able to build extra stadiums for the new football clubs around southern Sudan this will be of great benefit, rather than having just one stadium. With them, we can host tournaments. For instance, in 2011 there will be the African Cup of Nations for non-professionals. If we get such a chance we will have no problem hosting it in southern Sudan.”

The chairman said four new Sudan Football Association branch offices have been opened in southern Sudan. Rumbek, Wau, Rajah and Aweil are the first of ten offices which have are scheduled to open, to complement the existing ones in the region.

Let's hope that sponsors of football and sport in general take an interest in Sudanese athletes, players and sports venues enabling Southern Sudan to host 2011 African Cup of Nations for non-professionals. Incidentally, the Olympics in 2011 are to be held in London. I'm pleased to report that the huge amount of work involved is going very well and on time. The whole nation is looking forward to the event.

Click on CECAFA label here below to view previous reports on footballing in Sudan.

Rwanda's Atraco has toppled Sudan’s El-Merrikh to win the CECAFA 2009 clubs championship trophy in Omdurman

Well, this is disappointing news.  Various news reports led one to believe that Sudan’s El-Merrikh would be win.  Congratulations to Rwanda.
From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 13 July 2009 –
Atraco Win CECAFA Trophy Against El Merrikh

(Khartoum) – Rwanda's Atraco has toppled Sudan’s El-Merrikh to win the CECAFA 2009 clubs championship trophy in Omdurman. The final on Sunday was expected to be a replay of the tournament’s opening when El-Merrikh had an easy 6-1 win over Atraco but surprisingly enough the Rwandan champions changed tactics and replaced key players that helped them wrestle El-Merrikh down.

The editor of Sokar sports newspaper, Mr. Badr Eldin Bakhit, spoke to Sudan Radio Service in the stadium after the match.

[Badr Eldim Bakhit]: “I think El-Merrikh’s coach (Mr. Radan Jacknet) had said from the beginning that he does not want to pressure the players. You can see that he was just seated on the bench without saying anything. It is clear; he is more concerned about the match against El-Hilal than this competition. In the tactics you see today, the defense is supposed to be changed. Look at the midfield, there is Nasrdin Shigail, Lasana Fanie and the wings there are Bala Jabir in the right and Zuma in the left. This is a typical makeup against El-Hilal. He did not concentrate on this match; he is more concerned about the later match against Hilal.”

The Rwandan fans at the stadium expressed their surprise after their victory. Ms. Julie Karanja, a Kenyan who supports Atraco, could not hide her joy.

[Juli Karanja]: “I would just say congratulations Rwanda! They have performed miracles, it is the least expected.”

While it is jubilation and shouts of joy on the Rwandan side, thousands of El-Merrikh supporters who turned up at the stadium left disappointed, including Sudan’s businessman Jamal Al-Wali who sponsored the team in this tournament.

There were five cases of fans who fainted when the last whistle was blown.

The editor of El-Sadda sports newspaper, Mr. Muzamil Abulgasim, a die-hard supporter of El-Merrikh, who gave over twelve thousand dollars in prize money to several players, was more positive.

[Muzamil AbulGasim]: “Again we want to say that the tournament has achieved its objectives and El-Merrikh is not an exception to this because it has got this far in the groupings. This tournament has shown us the weakness and the strengths of El-Merrikh and I hope the tactical team have noted this and will use it in the champion’s league.”

TP Mazembe of the Congo took the third position in the championship after beating Mathare United of Kenya 2-0.

Click on CECAFA label here below to read earlier news reports.
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Hamisi Gitagenda's lone strike gave Atraco victory over Merreikh

From BBC SPORT, Sunday, 12 July 2009:

Atraco stun Merreikh in Cecafa final

Atraco of Rwanda are the surprise winners of this year's Cecafa Club Championship.

They beat the Sudanese favourites El Merreikh 1-0 to take the trophy.

Atraco scored after just 15 minutes through the tournament's top scorer Hamisi Gitagenda.

It is a spectacular result for Atraco who have only been in existence for three years.

Atraco take home prize money worth US$ 50,000 for their efforts.

The runners-up El Merreikh earned US$ 30,000 plus the fair play trophy.

DR Congo's TP Mazembe beat Mathare United of Kenya 2-0 in the third-place play-off.

Mukulukutu Miala and Kaliyutuka Dioko were the scorers for the Congolese club.

CECAFA invite Nigeria to participate in next month's U17 Championship in Khartoum and Juba in Sudan

The Council of East and Central African Football Associations, CECAFA, has invited Nigeria’s U-17 team to participate in next month’s U-17 championship to be staged in Khartoum and Juba in Sudan.

The Nigerians have won the world youth championships twice and their experience will spice up the regional tournament.

Source: Goal.com by James Momanyi, Monday, 13 July 2009:
CECAFA Invite Nigeria To U17 Championship

In a report posted on the CECAFA official website, secretary Nicholas Musonye said Nigeria had been invited so as to raise the standards of the game in the region.

“Nigeria have one of the best under-17 talent in the world. At this level, their football put the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Sunday Oliseh on the world map. When Nigeria play in our tournament next month, they will be serving warning to youths in our region that football at this level is no ‘kids’ stuff,” said Musonye.

The CECAFA tournament kicks off in Sudan on August 12 after all the eleven CECAFA member countries assemble in Sudan. Musonye said that according to tentative plans, groups will be based in Khartoum and Juba but there is a possibility of placing the third group in another Sudanese city of Kessala.

It will be the first time ever that a major international sports event will take place in the semi-autonomous Sudanese region ravaged by war for decades. The Unity Government of Sudan has given CECAFA $400,000 towards hosting of the tournament and CAF (African Football Confederation) is also assisting.

Meanwhile CAF has openly praised CECAFA as the most active and efficient regional organisation in the continent. CAF is also pleased with CECAFA’s efforts to encourage co-operation between regional bodies.

After the conclusion of the CECAFA club championship on Sunday, the senior CECAFA championship that involves national teams in the region will take place in Kenya later in the year.

Organizations such as COSAFA (Confederation of Southern African Football Associations) and WAFU (West African Football Union) have lately halted their activities or discontinued them altogether, owing to financial and administrative problems.

Click on CECAFA label here below to read related news reports.

Football Without Borders - Sudan, Chad, DR Congo, Niger

Today, I received a newsletter message via Facebook from Jakob. The message inspired me to respond.  I think Jakob is part of a group of Niger watchers, namely @ Play31.  We've probably connected via my 'soccer and free footballs' postings at Niger Watch.  Here is a copy of Jakob's message and my reply.

From Jakob
Football Without Borders
Dear all,

As those of us who are in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the questionable weather of Nordic Summer, a new Play31 tournament is under way in Sierra Leone. Next weekend in Koindu Village in Eastern Sierra Leone, communities from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will kick off the first tri-nation tournament.

We are very happy and proud to be able to reach out to communities in neighboring countries. The war in Sierra Leone knew no borders: refugees, rebels, arms, and diamonds spilled over the porous line that separates Sierra Leone from Guinea and Liberia and so it only makes sense that we at Play31 also work with “football without borders”. Of course, our objective remains the same: using footie to bring together people who have been torn apart by war.

Because of the generosity of so many of you in this group as well as the Clinton Foundation and a lot of UN Ambassadors, we now have money enough to include two very important aspects into our tournament: below 14-teams and shoes for all players.

Play31 is growing steadily at the moment and we hope to launch quite a few new initiatives soon. Among other things, we are right now setting up a Danish board in Denmark consisting of Danes. More information on all these exciting new projects will come soon so stay tuned.

With continued gratitude for your support and with love for the Beautiful Game,

Jakob and everyone @ Play31

- - -

Copy of my email reply re: Football Without Borders - Sudan

Dear Jakob, Football is a peaceful fun way for people of different cultures to get together, football games are a good thing. I would like to help focus on football in Sudan and, eventually, Chad, DR Congo. Please let me know how I can help using my blogs. Best wishes, Ingrid Jones, England, UK.

http://sudanwatch.blogspot.com
http://congowatch.blogspot.com

plus others on Uganda, Ethiopia, Niger, Kenya, Egypt.

PS  On completing my reply email to Jakob, I pressed SEND (at the Facebook site) but nothing happened. Repeated procedure. Same again. So I have no idea if my message has reached Jakob.

Hopefully this blog post will deliver the above message to Jakob.

Sudan's Al-Merrikh Through to CECAFA Final - In a Globalized World, Sports Emerges as a Force for Change

From Sudan Radio Service, Friday, 10 July 2009:
Al-Merrikh Through to CECAFA Final

Friday, 10 July 2009 – (Khartoum) – Sudan’s Al-Merrikh has qualified for the final of the CECAFA Club Championship after defeating Mazimbe of the Democratic Republic of Congo at home on Thursday night in the semi-finals. Final score 2- 1.

Mazimbe of the DRC scored their first goal in the 15th minute of the first half while Al-Merrikh Nigerian’s striker, Endurance Idahor, scored for Al-Merrikh in the second half, making both teams level at the final whistle.

An extra thirty minutes were added. Al-Merrikh’s Idahor scored the second and winning goal just minutes before the end of extra time.

Al-Merrikh, three times winner of the CECAFA cup, will play in the final on Sunday evening against the winner of the other semi-final match, between Mathare United of Kenya and Atraco of Rwanda on Friday night.

- - -

Today, I posted this at Blair Foundation Watch.

From The New York Times
In a Globalized World, Sports Emerges as a Force for Change
By ROB HUGHES
Published: July 10, 2009

LONDON — The sporting superstar has reached a level of global recognition beyond any film star.

“There is no movie star in the world who could get thousands of people to wait six hours just to see their arrival, as Cristiano Ronaldo did this week,” said David Puttnam, filmmaker turned law maker in the British House of Lords.

Puttnam, who over 30 years produced award-winning films, including “Chariots of Fire,” “The Killing Fields,” “Bugsy Malone,” and “Memphis Belle,” is certain that Tom Cruise could not hope to draw 80,000 to a movie theater the way Ronaldo did to his signing ceremony at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium last Monday.

“I have watched the dynamic of the superstar shift from film to sports,” Puttnam added. “The whole level of globalization of sports is bigger. The key is engagement. The power of sport has taken the movie industry by surprise.”

We were speaking at the Beyond Sport summit meeting in London where Puttnam — now Lord Puttnam, legislator and ambassador for Unicef — joined people from government offices to ground workers in some of the world’s most violent crime spots to discuss the power of sports.

Fame need not be frivolous. Puttnam, 68, has witnessed the emergence of celebrity added to charitable causes, from Danny Kaye, the American actor, singer and dancer of the 1950s, to the David Beckham phenomenon today.

He shared a panel at Beyond Sport with Tony Blair, the former British prime minister now working on reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Beside them was Prince Faisal Al Hussein, adviser to Jordan’s armed forces as well as the founder of Generations for Peace, which attempts to use sport to unite youth.

And besides them was Dikembe Mutombo, a former N.B.A. star now using his stature back home in the Democratic Republic of Congo to construct hospitals and research centers in his hometown of Kinshasa. Mutombo went to the United States on a scholarship hoping to become a doctor. He returned to Africa as more than a doctor, using fame and fortune, to try to turn the tide of H.I.V.

He appeals to soccer in particular to put more back into a continent, which European clubs have plundered of so many star players.

Even down to Ronaldo, there is a social conscience that should not be overlooked. Showmanship is a major part of his talent, and playing the prima dona is second nature to him.

Yet this same performer who loves the crowd to love him also, at the relatively unknowing age of 20, was one of the first in to Aceh Province after the tsunami devastation of December 2004. Touched by the bravery of a boy found wandering the beach, lost after most of his family were washed away in the horror, Ronaldo paid for the boy to attend a match involving his own national team, Portugal.

The player, then at Manchester United, flew to Indonesia to give his time and presence to raise more than a billion rupiahs, then about $90,000, toward rebuilding homes.

“I never cease to be thrilled by some of the players I meet and the way they handle all that surrounds them,” Puttnam said at Beyond Sport. “The Barcelona club pays Unicef to wear our logo on the shirts, and more than that I’ve talked to the players.

“They tell me they get a thrill representing the world’s children. I’ve never had the same conversation with Manchester United players about A.I.G.” The United shirt is sponsored by the American insurance company, though the club has worked for nine years with Unicef without going that extra step that Barcelona did in paying the charity to wear the insignia.

But nobody supposes that sports clubs are anything less than big businesses these days. The fusion of cricket and Bollywood captures the modern world — and the worlds of celebrity, sport and entertainment.

Blair, the politician discovering the extraordinary pulling power of sports, said: “Most world leaders I have met enjoy something about sport, and some even play. But I think over the years it has become of a different magnitude, and we are only just beginning to understand the utility of sports.” He recalls going into a classroom in Japan and trying to relate to children. “I was introduced as the prime minister of Britain,” he says. No response. “I tried to say London.” A flicker.

“Then I said Beck-ham ... Ah, yes, I had a response.” Blair said that the more he learned about the power of government, the more he also discovered the limits of government. Sport, he suggested, could sometimes unlock those limitations.

Later, sitting besides Michael Johnson, the American sprinting icon, Blair admitted: “You know, Michael, when I told my own family who I was meeting today, they were suddenly interested. My kids are used to me talking about world leaders, but a real live sporting superstar, that was something different.” As we left the room, Blair took the opportunity to have his photograph taken with Johnson. For the children, no doubt.

It was reminiscent of Carlos Menem, the Argentine president from 1989-99, appointing Diego Maradona as a sporting ambassador for the world. The president shamelessly courted the soccer star, basked in his popularity. He didn’t know that at that time, leading up to the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Maradona had already begun the drug addiction in Naples that ultimately destroyed him as a player, and almost as a man.

This is heady stuff, when politicians and the rest of us put the fleeting stars of sports high on a pedestal, asking some of them to sort out the world’s problems.

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see previous footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

Latest - CECAFA 2009 results from Khartoum, Sudan - Thurs, 09 July 2009

Report from Sudan Radio Service on Thursday, 09 July 2009:

(Khartoum) – Rwanda’s Atraco enjoyed a surprise victory on Wednesday night, knocking out Uganda’s Kampala City Council 4-0 in CECAFA’s quarter finals in El-Merrikh’s stadium, in Omdurman.

The Rwandans had faced several humiliations earlier in the tournament but qualified narrowly by edging out first Djibouti’s Kartileh and then Kampala City Council.

In this match, the first half was centered in the midfield and the two sides missed several chances of scoring.

Atraco apparently gained from the weakness of Kampala City Council in the second half and scored their first goal in the sixty-third minute through left-wing Hamisi Gitagenda.

KCC began to dominate the match but did not capitalize on their chances to equalize before Andre Lomami headed a corner ball home, scoring Kampala’s second goal in the seventy-fourth minute.

The Ugandan coach, George Nsimbe, tried to turn the table around by substituting two strikers but this could not prevent a soaring third goal from Johnson Bogoole in the eighty-seventh minute.

Just before the final whistle, Atraco’s captain, Shyaka Jean, recovered a long kick from his goalkeeper and dodged his way swiftly past the Kampala’s defense and shot to score the fourth goal.

The Rwandans will now meet Kenya’s Mathare United, who narrowly elbowed out fellow Kenyans, Tusker FC.

Mathare and Tusker’s match was described by sport analysts as a battle of wits because the match went all the way to the end 1-1. It was only after post-match penalties that the stand-off gave way in Mathare’s favor.

Duncan Ochieng, in goal for Mathare, saved three kicks out of five to ensure a three-two victory against Tusker.

Ochieng was chosen as the Man of the Match and received a $2000 prize from Al-Sadda newspaper.

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

CEFACA Results Latest

From Sudan Radio Service, Wed, 08 July 2009:
CEFACA Results Latest

(Khartoum) – The Sudanese champions El-Merrikh trampled over Burundi’s InterStars 2-0 in CECAFA’s quarter-final match on Tuesday evening and qualified for the semi-finals. The match began in a dull mood but heated up in the second half with El-Merrikh’s Nigerian star Indahor Indurance scoring the first goal in the sixty-first minute. He was later substituted by fellow Nigerian striker Klechi Osunwa who scored the second goal in seventy-second minute of the second half.

Sudanese striker Faisal Ajab was injured in the second half and will miss the next match of the semi-final on Friday against TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

Mazembe had earlier trounced Sudan’s Hay El-Arab 6-1 in a match that saw the locals making a slow start in the first half. Mazembe’s striker Bendi Benza shot a long range ball from left center of the field which skewered its way into the Hay El-Arab net, registering the first goal for the guests in the twenty-fourth minute. Hay El-Arab’s coach, Ahmed Sari, immediately re-arranged tactics and his boys retaliated with a goal through striker Magdi Abdel Majid in the thirty-fourth minute. The Congolese managed to hammer in their second goal before half-time and later slotted in four goals, instantly qualifying them for the semi-finals against El-Merrikh.

Off the pitch, the CECAFA organizing committee has banned Zanzibar’s Miembieni from the competition for five years. The decision by the committee was issued on Tuesday following bitter exchanges between Miembieni club officials and the referee of Sunday’s match in Port Sudan. According to a statement by CECAFA Secretary-general Nicholas Musonye posted on CECAFA’s website, a report from the referee and the match commissioner in Port Sudan found Miembieni to have flouted competition rules before abandoning the match midway in the second half.

The ban includes fining the club 20,000 USD and excludes them from all CECAFA-related activities. Their coach, Bushiri Ali, will not be allowed to participate in the competition for the next five years.

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

CECAFA 2009 results: Hay El-Arab of Sudan make the quarters

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 06 July 2009:

(Khartoum) – Hay El-Arab of Sudan has qualified for the quarter-finals in the CECAFA club competition after beating Zanzibar’s Miembieni 2-0 on Sunday in Port Sudan in a match that was marked with drama and dangerous play. The game was cut short half way through the second half by the referee when Miembieni ran out of substitutes after losing four players due to injury.

Another of their players was sent off for arguing with the referee.

Hay El-Arab scored their first goal in the first six minutes of the match and the second came from a penalty kick just before the final whistle. The penalty was bitterly contested by Miembieni.

The quarter-finals begin on Tuesday with Sudan’s El-Merrikh playing InterStars of Burundi. DR Congo’s TP Mazembe managed to cruise to their place in the quarter-finals after hurling out Tanzania’s Prisons 3-0 in Khartoum on Sunday.

Mazembe will play Hay El-Arab on Tuesday. Kenya’s champions Mathare United will be playing fellow Kenyans, Tusker, while Uganda’s Kampala City Council will battle it out with Rwanda’s Atraco on Wednesday.

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

See Sudan Watch - Sunday, 05 July 2009:
CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals



Photo: Mathare's Omogi shields the ball from Merreikh's Worgu



Photo: Sentogo opened the scoring for KCC with a diving header (BBC Sport)

From BBC Sport KCC make Cecafa quarters, 15:26 GMT, Sunday, 05 July 2009 16:26 UK:

KCC of Uganda sealed a quarter-final spot in the Cecafa club Championship in Sudan on Friday.

Robert Sentogo scored the fastest goal of the tournament after 47 seconds as KCC beat Prisons of Tanzania 3-1 in Group B.
Shaban Mtupah equalised for the Tanzanians after 13 minutes.

But the Ugandans secured the win with goals from Tonny Okello and Katongo in the 38th and 88th minutes respectively.

So KCC's place in the quarter-final is assured after beating TP Mazembe 3-2 in their opening match.

In the other Group B game, DR Congo's TP Mazembe made a spectacular comeback from their opening loss to KCC.

They trounced Benadir of Somalia 8-1.

There was another thrashing in Group C where Kenya's Tusker hit six goals past Miembieni of Zanzibar.

Tusker now have four points which secures them a place in the quarter-finals.

The other Group C game between Hay el Arab of Sudan and Burundi's Inter Stars ended 1-1.

SEE ALSO

KCC beat Mazembe at Cecafa
02 Jul 09 | African

Merreikh kick-off Cecafa in style
01 Jul 09 | African

Cecafa ready for kick-off
30 Jun 09 | African

Sudan to host Cecafa tournaments
25 May 09 | African

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BY VISION REPORTER KAMPALA City Council (KCC) edged closer to the quarter-finals of the CECAFA Clubs Championships with a commanding 3-1 victory over ...

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals

From Sudan Radio Service's producer Francis Butili on Sunday (!) :) 05 July 2009 (Khartoum):

The 2009 CECAFA football tournament is being held this year in Sudan.

Sudan Radio Service producer Francis Butili pursues his coverage of the event with this report.

“Sudan’s El-Merikkh has pushed itself to the top of this year’s CECAFA tournament by winning all three matches clean for the quarter finals. On Saturday, striker Faisal Ajab put icing on the pudding by nailing a goal for El-Merikkh in their last Group A match against Kenya’s Mathare United in Omdurman.

The sports editor for Khartoum Monitor newspaper, Dominic John, analyses El-Merikkh’s chances of success in the tournament. He says all is going to be well for the Sudanese champions:

[Dominic John]:“For sure, 100%, El-Merikkh will get the trophy but it has problem in organizing its defense. Their defense is good, they need re-organization but they will reach the finals because the teams they will meet in the quarter-finals are not of that standard. They are hosting this tournament and have practiced well. Their victory for the semi-final is sure if they meet Rwanda’s Atraco in the coming match.”

Rwanda’s Atraco clings to third position after Mathare by beating Djibouti’s Kartileh 5-0 on Saturday.

On Friday, TP Mazembe of the Congo made a fierce comeback by pounding Somalia’s Benadir Telecom 8-1, giving them a do-or-die chance on Sunday before Tanzania’s Prison’s Club in Khartoum.

Prisons are expected to put on a brave performance after losing to Uganda’s Kampala City Council Club 3-1 on Friday. On the same day in Port Sudan, Kenya’s Tusker beat Zanzibar’s Miembieni 6-0 and Sudan’s Hay El-Arab drew 1-1 with Burundi’s InterStars.”

Francis Butili was reporting from Khartoum on Sunday.

- - -

From Goal.com by James Momanyi, Thursday 02 Jul 2009:
Kabagambe Signs For Sudan’s Al-Neel While With Atraco For CECAFA Championship - 

The Rwandan club is offered Nigerian Abdul Karim Yekini as a makeover as part of deal.

Former Ugandan International, Joseph Kabagambe threw the Atraco FC camp into shock on Tuesday evening as he sealed a deal with a Sudanese top side, Al-Neel FC. The six-month loan deal ruled Kabagambe out of the Kagame Club Championships that kicked off on Tuesday.

Kabagambe was quoted in The New Times saying that he was excited to join the Sudanese club and hopes for the best as his career takes a dramatic turn. "I am happy that after a lot of phone calls from my bosses in Rwanda, I was finally allowed to move. Let me try my chance here," said Kabagambe.

The Hasahisa based club, which is placed third on the Sudan league table, reportedly gained interest in the player after he scored a beautiful goal in their 2-1 loss to El Merreikh in a Champions League return leg in Khartoum two months ago.

According to the Sudanese side, they are ready to give Atraco Nigerian forward Abdul Karim Yekini in exchange. "This is to inform you that after a lengthy discussion with in our board members, we have agreed that our player Joseph Kabagambe should be loaned to your club in exchange of a Nigerian player whom we are interested in. We give Kabagambe permission to discuss personal terms," stated the Atraco release letter signed by vice-president Issa Ngeze.

However, Atraco coach Sam Timbe was a disappointed man and said the player should have first accomplished the mission he came for in Sudan, that of playing in the Kagame Club championship.

"I am very disappointed with Kabagambe because I talked with him and advised him on how to go about it and first to put-up a good show and attract better deals," explained Timbe, the former SC Villa and Police coach in Uganda.

Later on Tuesday evening, Sudanese top dogs, El Mereikh hammered Atraco 6-1 in the second group "A" match played at the El Mereikh Stadium in the ongoing CECAFA Club Championships.

- - -

From The New Times (via AllAfrica) by Martha Ayuro in Khartoum and Hamza Nkuutu, Thursday 02 July 2009:
Rwanda: Kabagambe Fakes Letter to Join Al-Neel

Kigali — Atraco FC's attacking winger Joseph Kabagambe's transfer to Sudanese side Al-Neel has hit a snag after confirmed reports that the player has failed to get an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

The former SC Villa player has confessed that he actually presented a forged release letter because Atraco officials had refused to hold talks with Al-Neel. "I had no alternative but to ask my people in Kampala to forge something and mail it to the Al-Neel team. These Atraco people will not stop me from moving because it's my golden chance," said a confused Kabagambe at the Palace Hotel in Northern Khartoum on Wednesday.

- - -

From The Monitor, Uganda (via AllAfrica) Thursday 02 July 2009:
Uganda: Kabagambe in Forgery Scandal

The seemingly good news of Joseph Kabagambe's move from Atraco to Sudan's Al-Neel FC has turned sour after the deal fell through because of some irregularities.

The former Express and SC Villa midfielder pocketed US$10,000 (Shs21m) as sign-on fee after putting pen to paper on a six month loan Al-Neel documents. But he failed to get an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

A teary Kabagambe told Daily Monitor that he forged the transfer letter from Atraco so he could get the move through subtly and then wait for his contract to expire officially in a few days, after which he would get his ITC and transfer normally.

"I had no alternative but to use my friends in Kampala to forge the letter and email it to the agent of Al-Neel. This is a juicy deal I needed so badly," said Kabagambe.

Note from Sudan Watch Ed:  Today I have been unable the website of Sudan Radio Service. The page won't load. Here's saying a big warm thank you to SRS for emailing me their news bulletins and this latest news on the football matches in Sudan.  This site, Sudan Watch, has received an increase in visits from people around the world searching for news of CECAFA 2009 results. Sadly, and unusually, there are still no visitors from China.  Plenty from Iran, but nothing from China.  Ever since last month, when it was reported that Google access in China had been disrupted, visits from Sudan Watch readers in China have ceased. :(



Photo: KCC’s Sentogo shields the ball away from Prisons’ Misango Muyemba in Friday’s match. (Source: Sunday Vision (Uganda) report - see here below)



Photo: Johnson Bongoole (No.15) of Rwanda champions Atraco attacks during their Cecafa Club Championship match with El Mereikh. Also in action is El Mereikh's Balla Jabir (14), Naserdin Shigail (18) amd Atraco's Godfrey Katerega (No.3). El Mereikh won 6-1. PHOTO /MOHAMMED AMIN (Source:  see report here below from The Nation by Charles Nyende  in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, July 4 2009)

Further reading:
Jul 03, 2009, Sudan Watch:   CECAFA 2009 Results from Sudan Radio Service.

Jun 27, 2009, Sudan Watch:  Google access in China temporarily disrupted - outage follows criticism by Chinese watchdog

KCC CRUISE AHEAD

Sunday Vision - ‎14 hours ago‎

BY VISION REPORTER KAMPALA City Council (KCC) edged closer to the quarter-finals of the CECAFAClubs Championships with a commanding 3-1 victory over ...

Wads of cash boost CECAFA

Sunday Vision - James Bakama - ‎14 hours ago‎

All George Nsimbe's side has to do is win the CECAFA Club Championship and a cool sh200m will be on the club's account. The top team in Sudan will earn ...

Brewers prey on Inter Stars

Daily Nation - Charles Nyende - ‎16 hours ago‎

Johnson Bongoole (No.15) of Rwanda champions Atraco attacks during their Cecafa Club Championship match with El Mereikh. Also in action is El Mereikh's ...

CECAFA Cup: Tusker FC, KCC And El-Mereikh Qualify For Quarter-Finals

Goal.com - ‎Jul 3, 2009‎

CECAFA defending champions, Kenya's Tusker FC joined their counterparts Mathare United in the quarter-finals as the race for the title hots up in Sudan. ...

UPDATE: See Sudan Watch Monday, July 06, 2009:
CECAFA 2009 results: Hay El-Arab of Sudan make the quarters

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

Sudan: CECAFA 2009 Results

From Sudan Radio Service, Friday, 03 July 2009, CECAFA 2009 Results:

(Khartoum) - The CECAFA championships in Sudan entered its second day with four matches, two in Khartoum and two in Port Sudan. In Khartoum’s national stadium, Tanzania’s Prisons drew with Somalia’s Benadir Telecom 2-2 after a tough match. Benadir scored their two goals in the first half and were looking convincing until Prisons got back into game with a goal just before half time. After the break, Prisons scored after a hair-raising battle through the Somalis’ strong defense.

Following this match, TP Mazembe of DR Congo played against Uganda’s KCC but was beaten 3-2 after failing to stand their ground in defense. Referee Alfadil Abu Shanab sent off the Mazembe goalkeeper.

In Port Sudan, Sudan’s Hay El-Arab drew with Kenya’s Tusker FC 1-1. Hay El-Arab scored their equalizing goal towards the end of the match from a penalty. The second match in the coastal town was between Miembeni of Zanzibar and InterStars of Burundi. Miembeni beat the InterStars 2-1.

Thanks C :)

Further reading
Sudan Watch, Wed, 01 July 2009: CECAFA 2009 club football championship kicks off in Khartoum, Sudan

UPDATE: See Sudan Watch Monday, July 06, 2009:
CECAFA 2009 results: Hay El-Arab of Sudan make the quarters




Photo: "Sudan football" by bashkaaa (Source: www.panoramio.com). Note from Sudan Watch Ed: This might be a photo of Sudan football association's building.



Photo: "Khartoum photo by night" (Source: www.skyscrapercity.com)

UPDATE on Sunday 05 July 2009: CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

CECAFA 2009 club football championship kicks off in Khartoum, Sudan

This tournament will be hosted by Almerrikh, the Champion of Sudan, and it will kick start on 30 June 2009 and last until 12 July 2009, the 26th matches of the tournament will take place in three different venues, Almerrikh stadium at Omdurman, Khartoum stadium at Khartoum and Port Sudan stadium in Eastern Sudan.

12 teams are participating in the tournament from different 10 different countries with Sudan and Kenya participating with two teams each. The teams are Almerrikh SC (Sudan), Hay El-Arab SC (Sudan), TP Mazembe (DR Congo) (Invited), Tusker FC (Kenya), Mathare United (Kenya), KCC FC (Uganda), Kartileh Djibsat (Djibouti), Prisons FC (Tanzania), Miembeni FC (Zanzibar), Benaadir Telecom (Somalia), AS Inter Star (Burundi) & Atraco FC (Rwanda).

Read more from Sudan Online:  CECAFA Club Championship 2009.
Logo source: www.brandsoftheworld.com





Photos (above): Al Merreikh Stadium, also known as the red castle, is a multi-use stadium in Omdurman, City of Khartoum, Sudan. Established in 1962. The stadium is used mostly for football games and is considered the home stadium of both Al-Merreikh and the Sudan national team. Currently, the stadium has a capacity of 42,000 seats.



Photo: Al Hilal Stadium, Omdurman, City of Khartoum, Sudan.  (Note, Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and the seat of government.  The city of Khartoum is composed of three areas:  Khartoum proper, North Khartoum, primarily an industrial area;  and Omdurman, once the capital of the Mahdist government.)



Photo: Port Sudan Stadium, Port Sudan, Eastern Sudan.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association's Club Cup (CECAFA Club Cup) is a football club competition. It has been known as the Kagame Inter-Club Cup since 2002 due to sponsorship reasons as Rwandan President Paul Kagame has bankrolled the tournaments. It is played by clubs from East and Central Africa.

From Confederation of African Football:

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association will stage the 2009 Kagame club in Sudan starting June 30. The annual championship has attracted 12 clubs from the region with TP Mazembe of DRC as guests.

The tournament sponsored by El Merreikh group and President of Rwanda HE Paul Kagame to the tune of US 600,000 promises to be a thrilling affair with El Merreikh club of Sudan promising to be the club to watch in the two week festival.

From Sudan Radio Service, 01 July 2009:

(Khartoum) – Amidst fireworks, cheering and tight security, the CECAFA 2009 club football championship was officially opened on Tuesday night in El-Merikh football stadium.

The first match, between Mathare United of Kenya and Kartileh from Djibouti, began before the ceremony. Mathare United beat Kartileh three nil.

Soon after the match and the colorful ceremony, El-Merrikh played and beat Atraco of Rwanda by six goals to one, giving the hosts a big push and sending the whole stadium into wild jubilation after a match that ended a few minutes before midnight. The chairman of the club, Dr. Omar Mahmoud Khalid, could not hide his joy following the match.

[Dr. Omar Mahmoud Khalid]:“This is a very exciting match, especially towards the end of the first half, when they scored four goals with beauty and style. We are happy with this performance, especially when El-Merikh has been absent for a long time. This affected their performance in the first half - but they picked up later.”

On Wednesday, Tanzania’s Prisons FC will battle it out with Benadir of Somalia while TP Mazembe of DR Congo will face Kampala City Club from Uganda.

El-Merikh now go on to play Kartileh of Djibouti and Mathare United will take on Atraco of Rwanda on Thursday evening in Omdurman.

In Port Sudan, InterStars of Burundi will play Miembieni of Zanzibar and Hay El-Arab will take on the Kenyans, Tusker FC.

From AFP - Sudan to host two CECAFA championships - 25 May 2009 (via footballcupleague.com):

(NAIROBI) - Sudan will host two CECAFA championships in July and August in a bid to solidify their rather shaky peace treaty between the North and the South, a top official said on Monday.

The club championships, originally scheduled for Uganda, will be held in Khartoum and Port Sudan between June 30 and July 12 and the youth under-17 contest in Juba a month later.

It will be the first major sporting event to be staged in the southern part of the country since the signing of the treaty in January 2005 which brought an end to their 20-year old civil war.

“The government of Sudan is committed to the promotion and willing to invest heavily in sports throughout the whole country,” CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye told AFP.

“They have accepted to finance the staging of the two events to the tune of one million dollars (78 million shillings). It is a big boost for the sport.”

“We have, in turn increased the prize money from 60,000 dollars to 100,000 dollars (7.8 million shillings) of which the winners will pocket 50,000 dollars (4 million shillings),” said Musonye.

Sudan is enjoying a footballing reconnaissance with their two top club sides, Al Hilal and Al-Merreikh, reaching the group stages of the African Champions League and the national team in the hunt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

UPDATE - Friday 03 July 2009:  click here for CECAFA 2009 Results

UPDATE - Sunday 05 July 2009: CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.